On The Up: Hawke’s Bay poet Nafanua Purcell Kersel wins Ockham poetry award for debut

Poet Nafanua Purcell Kersel holding a copy of her award-winning poetry collection Black Sugarcane at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2026. Photo / LK Creative

A Hawke’s Bay poet has won a top national literary prize for her debut collection.

Nafanua Purcell Kersel of Maraekakaho in rural Hastings won the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry at the 2026 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards in Auckland on Wednesday night for her first published collection, Black Sugarcane.

The win places Kersel alongside renowned New Zealand poets who have also won the award, including Hone Tuwhare, Sir Vincent O’Sullivan and Janet Frame, among many others.

Kersel received $12,000 for winning this year’s award.

Poetry category convenor of judges Daren Kamali said Kersel’s collection was a work of rare linguistic grace and emotional precision.

“Each poem pulses with clarity, restraint, and quiet power, revealing the extraordinary within the ordinary.

“Black Sugarcane not only enriches contemporary poetry but also expands its possibilities, offering readers a resonant, enduring contribution to the literary landscape today.”

Kersel said the book was a 20-year collection of stories that inadvertently became poems.

“I actually did not expect to write a book of poetry, but that’s how the stories came.”

Kersel was still processing the win when Hawke’s Bay Today spoke with her, but described hearing her name being called as “a dream come true”.

“It was a bit surreal,” she said.

“I was hopeful, but I didn’t really dare believe that I could actually win it until that moment.

“Then it all solidified, and it all became real.”

Kersel said it felt unnatural to have a competitive element among her fellow poets.

“But it’s just always inspiring and it always ends up being fun hanging out with other creative people.”

She said the win meant a great deal to her and her family, as the collection was filled with stories of her whānau.

“There’s some sass and spells [in the book], and it’s like all the different characters in a family.”

Kersel’s whānau were at the ceremony to celebrate with her.

“There were lots of people, lots of positive energy, so much aroha which’ll keep me sustained for a long time,” she said.

“I‘ll have to get together with some of the poets and writers in Hawke’s Bay to celebrate because there are so many of us.”

Kersel said the first thing she would do when she returns to Hawke’s Bay would be to sign copies of Black Sugarcane at Wardini Books and prepare for National Poetry Day on Friday, August 28.

She said she would continue to write poetry, but did not want it to be her only creative outlet.

“I am also super keen to look into other forms of writing and artistic expression, possibly some theatre,” Kersel said.

“I want to do all the things.”

Before returning to Hawke’s Bay, Kersel will join fellow Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry award winner Tusiata Avia this Saturday at the Auckland Writers Festival at 7pm in the Waitākere Room at the Aotea Centre.

Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and has worked in radio and media in the UK, Germany, and New Zealand.