Award for Best Non-Illustrated Book 2026
Finalist
Designer: Momoe i manu ae ala atea’e Tasker (cover), Ashleigh Young (Interiors)
Title: Black Sugarcane
Publisher: Te Herenga Waka University Press
Format: 210 x 170 mm, 128pp, thread sewn.
Typography: Cover: Churchward Samoa, size 15/18pt, regular. Untitled Serif, size 17pt, leading 22pt, regular, regular italic
Internal: Adobe Garamond Pro, size 8-40pt, leading 11-27pt, regular, bold, italic
Geneva, size 10pt, leading 14.4pt, regular
Judges’ Comments:
“This book carries the tactile quality of a handcrafted print or artwork, with the cover stock reinforcing its artisanal character. The strikingly bold yet pared-back cover creates immediate impact, while the categorisation by vowels introduces an unexpected typographic device that gives the publication a distinctive identity. There is a clever use of space and type assisting with the flow of the poetry. There is a restraint to the production that feels appropriate to the work. Together, these elements create a book that feels confidently original.”
