There were whoops of delight here on the Wellington waterfront as our landmark art collections publication Art at Te Papa was nominated in the illustrated non-fiction category of the 2010 New Zealand Post Book Awards.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Auckland on Friday 27 August 2010.

Te Papa Press warmly congratulates William McAloon, Curator Historical New Zealand Art, who edited the book, and all the writers and staff who contributed to the superb final result.

The New Zealand Post judges are not alone in recognising the quality of Art at Te Papa:

• This is a milestone of a book, demonstrating high standards of research, writing and reproduction. – John Daly-Peoples, The National Business Review March 2009
• A rich and accessibly written account of collections of surprising depth – in both international and New Zealand Art. – Hamish Keith, Metro (May 2009)
• New Zealand’s most extensive art collection is celebrated in this encyclopedic publication. – Amber McCulloch, Art World No. 9, Jun/Jul 2009
• Roomy and elegant, and unfailingly informative and lucid. – Graham Adams, Air New Zealand Kia Ora magazine May 2009
• From Rembrandt engravings to a plastic resin chimp, there’s something for everyone’s taste. A work of art in itself. – Steve Trotman, Wairarapa Times-Age Saturday 18 July, 2009
• This gorgeous book invites you to leave aside the debate about gimmicky displays and enjoy the art. – Eleanor Black Watkin, Next August 2009

The New Zealand Post book awards were formerly called the Montana New Zealand book awards and Te Papa Press books have won three of the last four Montana Medal for Non-Fiction awards – the most prestigious award for non-fiction in NZ. Those lucky winners were:

• 2006: Pohutukawa and Rātā: New Zealand’s Ironhearted Trees by Philip Simpson
• 2007: Eagle’s Complete Trees and Shrubs of New Zealand by Audrey Eagle (LINK)
• 2009: Rita Angus: An Artist’s Life by Jill Trevelyan (LINK)
• Other Montana-shortlisted Te Papa Press titles have included the following:
• 2003: Pacific Art Niu Sila by Sean Mallon and Fuli Pereira
• 2005: Icons Nga Taonga: From the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
• 2005: Toss Woollaston: A Life in Letters by Jill Trevelyan
• 2006: Extinct Birds of New Zealand by Alan Tennyson and Paul Martinson
• 2006: An Illustrated Guide to New Zealand Hebes by Alison Kellow and Michael Bayly

Fingers crossed!