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A pair of award-winning New Zealand authors have had their works excluded from contention for the country's prestigious literary prize because of the use of AI in designing their cover art.

Exclusion Particulars

Stephanie Johnson's short story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's novella set "Angel Train" were entered for the Ockham 2026 literary prizes and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar fiction award in October, but were ruled out the following month because of recently introduced rules regarding AI usage.

The publishing house of both books, Quentin Wilson, stated that the prize organizers amended the guidelines in August, by which point the cover designs for all entered title would have previously been finalized.

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

Authors' Responses

The author voiced understanding for the award organizers, saying she shares serious worries about AI in creative fields, but was let down by the decision.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad about it,” she remarked. “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.”

Johnson further stated that authors usually have little involvement in cover design and was did not know artificial intelligence had been employed for her book cover, which features a feline with human teeth.

“I just thought it was a photograph of a real cat and the teeth had been superimposed, but apparently it wasn’t,” Johnson explained, noting that unlike younger generations, she struggles to recognize AI-generated graphics.

The writer worried that the public might assume she used AI to write her book, 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 comment, Elizabeth Smither said that the artists devoted considerable time creating her publication's cover, which features a locomotive and an angel “half-obscured in the smoke”, influenced by painter the artist's imagery.

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

Prize Committee's Position

Nicola Legat, chair of the award foundation that administers the prizes, said the trust maintains a strong position on the use 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,” Legat 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 motivated by a aim to protect the creative and intellectual property interests of the nation's writers and artists, she explained.

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

Industry Reflections

The publisher pointed out that publishers and authors often employ software like grammar checkers and image editors, which incorporate AI, and this situation highlighted the pressing requirement for carefully crafted guidelines.

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

Both Elizabeth Smither and Stephanie Johnson have in the past been jurors for sections of the prizes, and both emphasized that cover designs get minimal attention during judging.

“The contents and the close reading were everything,” Smither said.

The application of artificial intelligence in artistic fields has faced increasing scrutiny as the tech advances, with some groups developing ways to counter its influence.