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A pair of award-winning New Zealand authors have had their books disqualified from consideration for the country's esteemed literature prize because of the utilization of artificial intelligence in creating their book covers.

Disqualification Details

Stephanie Johnson's story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's short novel set "Angel Train" were submitted for the 2026 Ockham literary prizes and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar fiction award in the tenth month, but were ruled out the following month because of new rules concerning artificial intelligence use.

The publisher of the two titles, the publisher, stated that the awards committee amended the criteria in August, by which point the covers for every entered title would have already been finalized.

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

Writers' Responses

The author expressed understanding for the award organizers, stating she has serious worries about artificial intelligence in artistic industries, but was let down by the ruling.

“It would be untrue to claim I am not upset by this,” she commented. “This marks my 22nd publication and my fourth short story anthology. These tales … were composed over roughly two decades, making this a particularly significant work for me.”

She added that authors usually have little involvement in book artwork and was did not know AI had been employed for her book cover, which features a feline with human dentition.

“I believed it was an actual cat photo with superimposed teeth, but that was not the case,” the author explained, noting that unlike more tech-savvy age groups, she finds it difficult to identify computer-created images.

The writer worried that the public might think she used AI to write her work, which she categorically denied.

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

In a statement, Smither expressed that the artists devoted hours creating her publication's art, which features a steam train and an celestial figure “half-obscured in the smoke”, influenced by artist Marc Chagall's imagery.

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

Award Trust's Stance

The trust chair, head of the book awards trust that administers the prizes, affirmed the trust takes a “firm stance on the application of artificial intelligence in publications.”

“We do not make such a decision lightly, one that bars the newest works by two of New Zealand's most respected authors from the 2026 prize,” she said.

“Nevertheless, the rules apply equally to every participant, no matter their standing, and must be enforced uniformly.”

The move to amend the AI guidelines was motivated by a aim to protect the creative and intellectual property rights of the nation's authors and artists, she explained.

“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 often employ tools like grammar checkers and Photoshop, which incorporate artificial intelligence, and this situation underscored the pressing need for carefully crafted guidelines.

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

Both Smither and Stephanie Johnson have in the past been jurors for sections of the Ockham awards, and both stressed that cover designs receive little attention during evaluation.

“The contents and the close reading were everything,” the author concluded.

The application of AI in creative sectors has encountered growing examination as the technology advances, with some organizations creating ways to address its impact.