Winner, Hubert Church Prize for Fiction,
Mātātuhi Foundation Best First Book Awards,
Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2026 www.nzbookawards.nz
The judges wrote "A youth group leader seeks solace from an AI chatbot. Two brothers disagree about the future of the family bach. A teacher positions himself for another career change. In John Prins’ lively story collection, both men and women battle to balance domestic and work spheres, how they perceive themselves and how they act. Funny, assured, thoughtful, of the moment and of this place, Pastoral Care is a grand debut."
In Pastoral Care, Auckland writer John Prins gives us nine clear-eyed, witty and beautifully written stories centred on daily life in twenty-first-century Aotearoa New Zealand. On the shores of Lake Pukaki; in kitchens, bedrooms and Lego-strewn living rooms; at school events; walking the dog, pushing a buggy, or stuck in traffic with a child kicking the back of the driver’s seat—Prins blends wry humour and emotional depth to illuminate the dark gulf between youthful dreams and the reality of adult obligations.
Prins reinvigorates the tradition of social realism in New Zealand short fiction, investing character, scene and dialogue with a distinctive, engaging voice. Often moving, frequently funny, and always relatable, Pastoral Care marks the arrival of a bold new voice in New Zealand fiction.
Pastoral Care is the second title in the Landfall Tauraka short story series, following Pretty Ugly by Kirsty Gunn.