Best NZ book covers of 2025 ... so far!Like this list

23 items

• Sick Power Trip

  Kennedy, Erik, 1980-

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  It's 80s, it's on a rakish angle, it's giving Miami Vice. Proving my theory that poetry books give good cover.

• Ghosts on Every Corner

  Woods, Reuben

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  The cover image is the Atami bath house, with that distinctive pink.

• This Compulsion in Us

  Makereti, Tina, 1973-

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  A strong image reflecting the personal and powerful contents by Tina Makereti.

• The Case of the Missing Stuff

  King, Rachael, 1970-

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  A joyous cover! Love the yellow, the title font, and the leaping Violet Grumble. Great work by Phoebe Morris, and Ōtautahi Christchurch author Rachael King.

• Central Otago Couture

  the Eden Hore Collection

  Malthus, Jane

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  The history of farmer Eden Hore and his collection of NZ couture. I especially love the opulent designs of Kevin Berkahn and Vinka Lucas. The stunning outfits (beautifully photographed by Derek Henderson) are the star of the show.

• The Book of Guilt

  Chidgey, Catherine, 1970-

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  The cover is happy and nostalgic, but heartrending once you've read it.

• Over Under Fed

  Marguerite, Amy

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  A strong and intriguing image. What's it all about?

• Mrs D Is Not on a Diet

  Dann, Lotta, 1971-

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  A clever play on the subject matter.

• Mad Diva

  Chung, Cadence

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  Love a painting on a book cover, this one has a wild drama to match the title.

• Filo's Butterflies

  Fuata, Litea

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  A super cute fun cover.

• A Guide to Rocks

  Cotter, Sacha

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  By the dynamic duo of Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan, this distinctive cover combines a cool illustration with fancy font and a popping yellow.

• A Song for You and I

  O'Neill, Kay (Cartoonist)

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  Beautiful cover and illustration and story by Ōtautahi Christchurch star Kay O'Neill.

• Mettle

  Te Whiu, Anne-Marie

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  Strong, graphic, bold.

• Careless People

  a Story of Where I Used to Work

  Wynn-Williams, Sarah

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  A distinctive colour palette and image for a book that is as punchy and impactful as this cover.

• 1985

  a Novel

  Hoey, Dominic, 1977-

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  Very cool use of font for the title - 80s video game glitchy pixelation.

• A Different Kind of Power

  a Memoir

  Ardern, Jacinda, 1980-

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  Likely to be the book of the year, the cover is bold and simple with that distinctive pop of yellow.

• Why Not?

  the Almost True Story of Stuff That Actually Happened in a Library

  Haddow, Swapna

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  The cover is fun and packed with character. It's written by the wonderful Swapna Haddow, and illustrated by Daron Parton.

• How to Save Democracy in Aotearoa New Zealand

  Palmer, Geoffrey, 1942-

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  A stunning effort by Todd Atticus, who never misses.

• The Floral Dream

  McCord, Olivia

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  If you are doing a book on flowers, this is the way to go.

• If We Knew How to We Would

  Barnes, Emma

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  A wonderful use of font and colour.