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A pair of acclaimed New Zealand writers have had their books disqualified from contention for the nation's prestigious literary prize because of the use of AI in creating their cover art.

Disqualification Details

The author's story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's novella collection "Angel Train" were submitted for the 2026 Ockham literary prizes and its NZ$65,000 fiction award in the tenth month, but were disqualified the next month because of new guidelines concerning AI usage.

The publishing house of the two books, the publisher, stated that the prize organizers updated the guidelines in the eighth month, by which point the cover designs for all entered title would have already been completed.

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

Authors' Responses

Johnson expressed understanding for the award administrators, saying she has serious worries about artificial intelligence in creative industries, 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.”

She added that authors usually have minimal involvement in cover design and was did not know AI had been employed for her book cover, which displays a cat with human-like dentition.

“I believed it was an actual cat photo with superimposed teeth, but that was not the case,” Johnson said, adding that unlike younger age groups, she struggles to recognize AI-generated images.

Johnson worried that readers might assume she used AI to compose her book, 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 said that the artists devoted considerable time creating her book's cover, which includes a steam train and an celestial figure “half-obscured in the smoke”, influenced by painter the artist's figures.

“It is them I am most concerned about: that their meticulous work … is being disrespected,” Smither remarked.

Prize Committee's Stance

The trust chair, chair of the book awards trust that oversees the prizes, affirmed the organization maintains a “firm stance 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,” Legat stated.

“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 motivated by a desire to protect the creative and intellectual property rights of the nation's authors and artists, she added.

“As AI evolves, there may well be a need for the trust to revisit and develop the criteria further.”

Industry Considerations

Wilson pointed out that publishing houses and authors regularly use software like grammar checkers and Photoshop, which utilize artificial intelligence, and this situation highlighted the urgent requirement for well-defined guidelines.

“Our industry must collaborate to prevent a recurrence of this scenario.”

Both Smither and Stephanie Johnson have previously been jurors for categories of the prizes, and both stressed that cover designs get minimal consideration during evaluation.

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

The use of AI in creative fields has encountered increasing examination as the tech progresses, with some organizations creating ways to counter its impact.