Annual Prize

The New Zealand Journal of Botany awards a prize which alternates annually between researchers who have a sustained record for excellence, and those early-career researchers who have published a significant paper in recent issues of the journal. The editorial board may decide not to award the prize if no candidate meets the criteria that year.

The established researcher prize will be awarded to a person who has made a sustained contribution to the journal during the last five years (regularly publishing and reviewing papers), and whose work has been widely cited by researchers in other journals during the same period. This award cannot be won by the same person more than twice. As from 2018, the award to the winner of the Established Researcher prize will comprise an offer to publish an open-access review paper free of charge, and a certificate. Reviews must be submitted within six months of the award, in order to be eligible for open-access publication.

The early researcher prize is for the best paper published, in the opinion of the editorial board, by an emerging researcher in issues of the journal in the two preceding years. At the time of submission of the manuscript, the first author must either be a full time student, or be within seven years of completing their highest degree (Bachelors, Masters or PhD), unless suitable reasons for a career break can be given (e.g. prolonged illness or parental leave). The award is open to authors from any country. The early-career award consists of NZ$400 in the form of a cheque, and a certificate.

Current prizewinner

The 2017 award for an early-career researcher goes to Amanda Taylor for, Composition patterns and network structure of epiphyte–host interactions in Chilean and New Zealand temperate forests.

Previous prizewinners

• 2016 – established researcher – Patrick Brownsey, Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand
• 2015 – early-career researcher –  María Jimena Franco for,  First extra-Patagonian record of Podocarpaceae fossil wood in the Upper Cenozoic (Ituzaingó Formation) of Argentina
• 2014 – established researcher – Peter de Lange, Department of Conservation, New Zealand
• 2013 – early-career researcher – Jessica Prebble, for, Phylogenetic relationships and species delimitation of New Zealand bluebells (Wahlenbergia, Campanulaceae) based on analyses of AFLP data.
• 2012 (inaugural) – established researcher – Peter Heenan, Landcare Research, New Zealand