Margaret Mahy (right), Alistair Te Ariki Campbell and Philip Temple were honoured at the 2005 Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement, announced at Premier House in Wellington.

Helen Clark said, “Margaret Mahy is an extraordinary storyteller whose tales have fed the imaginations of children throughout the world since the publication of her picture book, A Lion in the Meadow, in 1969.

“One of the first Polynesian voices to be published in New Zealand literature, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell has a long and distinguished career dating back to his first poetry collection, Mine Eyes Dazzle, in 1950.

“Philip Temple has made a major contribution to New Zealand’s non-fiction. His love of the outdoors is reflected in his books on mountaineering and exploration, while his biography on the Wakefield family has won considerable acclaim.

“These three writers uphold the status of these awards and their contributions to New Zealand society are remarkable.”

C.K. Stead, who picked up the 2005 Creative New Zealand Michael King Writers’ Fellowship earlier this year, attended the awards ceremony where his achievement was also acknowledged.