The Greatest New Zealand Literature
This selection of New Zealand literature encompasses all literary forms, genres and periods. It includes works acclaimed by readers, writers, critics and scholars in New Zealand and around the world.
The Greatest New Zealand Literature focuses on the country's major creative works—such as novels, novellas, plays, long poetry and collections.
You may also be interested in The Greatest Australian Literature or The Greatest Southeast Asian Literature.
This list is updated as new works are discovered and appreciation of older works evolves. Please note the revision date when citing the list.
Latest update: November 1, 2025
The 33 greatest works of Austrian literature
1922
The Garden Party and Other Stories
Story collection includes "At the Bay", "The Garden Party", "The Daughters of the Late Colonel", "Miss Brill", and others.
If you wonder how Katherine Mansfield who published so little could have such a wide influence on modern writing, spend some time with this collection. Reading The Garden Party and Other Stories is like perusing.... Critique • Quotes • Buy
1934
A Man Lay Dead
by Ngaio Marsh, New Zealand
Novel
1961
Faces in the Water
by Janet Frame, New Zealand
Novel
1971
Smith's Dream
by C.K. Stead, New Zealand
Novel
1972
Pounamu Pounamu
by Witi himaera, New Zealand
Story collection
1978
Plumb
by Maurice Gee, New Zealand
Novel
1982
Other Halves
by Sue McCauley, New Zealand
Novel
1983
To the Is-Land
by Janet Frame, New Zealand
Novel
1984
The Bone People
by Keri Hulme, New Zealand
Novel
1987
Potiki
by Patricia Grace, New Zealand
Novel
1988
The Carpathians
by Janet Frame, New Zealand
Novel
1990
Once Were Warriors
by Alan Duff, New Zealand
Novel
1997
Not Her Real Name, and Other Stories
by Emily Perkins, New Zealand
Story collection
1998
The Vintner's Luck
by Elizabeth Knox, New Zealand
Novel
2000
The Book of Fame
by Lloyd Jones, New Zealand
Novel
2004
Tu
by Patricia Grace, New Zealand
Novel
2005
Blindsight
by Maurice Gee, New Zealand
Novel
2006
Mister Pip
by Lloyd Jones, New Zealand
Novel
2007
Opportunity
by Charlotte Grimshaw, New Zealand
Story collection
2008
A Novel About My Wife
by Emily Perkins, New Zealand
Novel
2010
The Hut Builder
by Laurence Fearnley, New Zealand
Novel
2011
Rangatira
by Paula Morris, New Zealand
Novel
2012
The Big Music
by Kirsty Gunn , New Zealand
Novel
2013
The Luminaries
by Eleanor Catton, New Zealand
Novel
2016
The Wish Child
by Catherine Chidgey, New Zealand
Novel
2017
The New Animals
by Pip Adam, New Zealand
Novel
Can You Tolerate This?
by Ashleigh Young, New Zealand
Poetry collection
2018
This Mortal Boy
by Fiona Kidman, New Zealand
Novel
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
by Heather Morris, New Zealand
Novel
2019
Auē
by Becky Manawatu, New Zealand
Novel
2020
Bug Week and Other Stories
by Airini Beautrais, New Zealand
Story collection
2021
Kurangaituku
by Whiti Hereaka, New Zealand
Novel
2022
The Axeman's Carnival
by Catherine Chidgey, New Zealand
Novel
