Judging panel convenor Paul Diamond, a past judge of the awards, is a broadcaster, writer and historian.
He is joined by Charmaine Pountney, a writer, educationalist and broadcaster; Bob Harvey, a former mayor, environmentalist and lobbyist; Emily Perkins, award-winning author and broadcaster; and Michael Harlow, an acclaimed poet and editor.
"The judges were selected by the Awards Management Committee, for the rich scope and diversity of their skills, which they will bring to bear on the judging process," Booksellers NZ chief executive officer Lincoln Gould said.
The four categories in the awards are: poetry, fiction, illustrated non-fiction and general non-fiction. There will be 16 finalist books in total (three finalists each in the fiction and poetry categories and five in the illustrated non-fiction and general non-fiction categories).
The overall New Zealand Post Book of the Year Award winner will receive $15,000. Winners of the four category awards will each receive $10,000; the Maori Language Award $10,000; the People's Choice Award $5000; and the winners of the three New Zealand Society of Authors Best First Book Awards will receive $2500.
The judges will read more than 150 submitted books published in 2010 before selecting the finalists and winners.
Finalists will be announced on June 1.
