The New Zealand Book Awards Trust Te Ohu Tiaki i Te Rau Hiringa was established as a charitable trust in 2014 to govern and manage the country’s two major literary awards and National Poetry Day, and to ensure their longevity and credibility.

Nicola Legat ONZM (Chair) is the Publisher at Massey University Press. She has been the Publisher at Te Papa Press, the Publishing Director of Random House New Zealand and the editor of Metro magazine. Nicola is also a trustee of the Auckland Readers and Writers Festival.

Richard Pamatatau, of Cook Island, Niuean, German and English descent, teaches creative writing at AUT University. He is a member of the AUT Popular Culture Research Group and researches the intersection of space, place and identity. Richard has a Master of Creative Writing with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland and is working on a PhD in poetry at Massey University.

Garth Biggs is a businessman and professional director. He has had more than 30 years in information technology leadership roles in major corporates, and was chief executive of a leading New Zealand information technology services company. He now runs his own consultancy which provides governance, information technology strategy and performance, and mentorship services.

Suzy Maddox (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa) has worked in the book industry for over 30 years, in both New Zealand and England. She is Sales and Operations Manager for Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand and is Vice President of the Publishers Association of New Zealand Te Rau o Tākupu (PANZ), which she represents on the Trust. Alongside her work, Suzy is studying at AUT for a Māori Development degree, currently majoring in te reo Māori and New Zealand History.

Kim Tairi (Waikato Tainui) is the University Librarian at AUT and the LIANZA Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa representative on the Trust. A career librarian with deep expertise in strategic planning, community engagement, and leadership, Kim has led academic libraries and held key governance roles on both sides of the Tasman. She has served as Chair of CONZUL (the Council for Aotearoa New Zealand University Libraries) and as a board member of Open Access Australasia.

Renée Rowland is the Association Manager for Booksellers Aotearoa NZ, and owner of Timaru Booksellers in South Canterbury. She is Deputy Chair of the Coalition for Books and a former Chair of Booksellers Aotearoa NZ, which she represents on the Trust. Prior to running bookshops, Renée studied economics at the University of Canterbury and worked in marketing and communications in the financial services sector in London.

Elena de Roo is a former librarian and an award-winning writer of picture books, junior fiction, and children’s poetry. She was the 2020 University of Otago College of Education Creative New Zealand Children’s Writer in Residence and has a Master of Creative Writing with First Class Honours from AUT. Elena represents the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa on the Trust.

Belinda Cooke is Manager of the New Zealand Book Awards Trust. Former Managing Director of New Holland Publishers in New Zealand, she now runs her own publishing and communications consultancy alongside the part-time role. She can be reached regarding Trust matters on manager@nzbookawards.org.nz.