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A pair of acclaimed New Zealand authors have had their works excluded from contention for the country's esteemed literature award due to the use of artificial intelligence in creating their book covers.

Disqualification Particulars

The author's short story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's novella collection "Angel Train" were submitted for the 2026 Ockham literary prizes and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar fiction prize in October, but were ruled out the next thirty days due to recently introduced guidelines regarding AI usage.

The publishing house of both titles, Quentin Wilson, stated that the awards organizers amended the guidelines in August, by which point the covers for all submitted book would have previously been completed.

“Consequently, it was much too late for publishers to incorporate this new rule into their design plans,” the publisher said.

Authors' Reactions

The author voiced sympathy for the award administrators, saying she has serious worries about artificial intelligence in artistic fields, but was disappointed by the decision.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad about it,” she remarked. “It’s my 22nd book, and it is my fourth collection of short stories. These stories … were written over a sort of 20 year period, so for me, it’s quite an important book.”

Johnson further stated that authors usually have minimal involvement in cover design and was unaware AI had been used for her cover, which displays a feline with human-like dentition.

“I just thought it was a photograph of a real cat and the teeth had been superimposed, but apparently it wasn’t,” Johnson said, noting that unlike more tech-savvy age groups, she finds it difficult to recognize computer-created images.

The writer feared that the public might think she employed artificial intelligence to write her work, which she emphatically denied.

“Instead of talking about my book … and what the inspiration was, we are talking about bloody AI, which I hate.”

In a statement, Elizabeth Smither expressed that the artists devoted hours crafting her publication's cover, which features a locomotive and an celestial figure partially hidden by smoke, inspired by painter Marc Chagall's figures.

“My primary concern is for the designers: their careful, detailed work … is not being respected,” Smither stated.

Award Trust's Stance

Nicola Legat, head of the award foundation that administers the prizes, affirmed the organization takes a strong position on the use of artificial intelligence in books.”

“The trust does not take lightly a decision that prevents the latest works of two of New Zealand’s most esteemed writers from being considered for the 2026 award,” she said.

“However, the criteria apply to all entrants, regardless of their mana [status], and must be consistently applied to all.”

The decision to amend the artificial intelligence guidelines was driven by a desire to protect the artistic and intellectual property rights of the nation's authors and illustrators, she explained.

“With artificial intelligence advancing, the trust may need to review and refine these criteria in the future.”

Publishing Reflections

The publisher noted that publishers and writers often use software like Grammarly and image editors, which utilize AI, and this situation highlighted the urgent requirement for well-defined policies.

“As an industry, we must work together to ensure that this situation does not happen again.”

Both Smither and Stephanie Johnson have previously been jurors for sections of the Ockham awards, and both stressed that covers receive little consideration during evaluation.

“The text itself and its detailed analysis were all that mattered,” Smither said.

The use of artificial intelligence in creative sectors has faced increasing examination as the tech progresses, with some organizations developing methods to counter its influence.