Schrödinger’s Books
Schrödinger’s Books writes another award-winning chapter
For the second time, Schrödinger’s Books in Petone has been named Bookshop of the Year, taking the prestigious NielsenIQ BookData-sponsored trophy, at the 2026 Aotearoa New Zealand Book Industry Awards. The award recognises the independent bookstore's exceptional curation, commitment to readers, and year-round programme of events showcasing local and international authors.
Owner-manager Mary Fawcett says the recognition is both humbling and deeply meaningful.
"I feel so, so, so delighted and so thankful to the industry because it's such a recognition... It's voted for by the industry and awarded by them, and it's just fantastic," she says.
Fawcett's journey into bookselling was anything but conventional. She originally studied veterinary nursing at WelTec's Petone campus before returning to become a vet nurse lecturer. After deciding it was time for a career change, she left teaching and began planning to open a bookstore - despite never having owned a business before. Schrödinger's Books opened in late August 2019, just as the country was about to navigate the challenges of the pandemic.
Today, the Jackson Street bookstore has become a destination for readers seeking more than just books. Its point of difference lies in personalised recommendations. Rather than simply directing customers to shelves, Fawcett and her team match readers with books based on their interests and tastes.
"If someone comes in looking for a book for Aunt Gladys who's 86 and loves family stories, I've got at least three books I'll recommend and tell them all about," she says.
Community sits at the heart of the business. Schrödinger's hosts five different book groups (for adults, children's and young adult readers), regular author talks, book launches and literary events featuring celebrated New Zealand writers including Elizabeth Knox and Duncan Sarkies, alongside emerging local voices and international authors.
The store's loyal community has become an extension of the business itself. Book group members volunteer at events, bake for fundraisers and even helped finance and build a bespoke mobile event space through movie nights, pub quizzes and T-shirt sales.
"It's that sense of community," says Fawcett. "They've become more than friends. Whenever we do an event, I can send out a plea for help and they come. They volunteer, they bake, they give up their time. I feel very fortunate to have such wonderful people around me."
Located among Jackson Street's cafés, boutiques and heritage buildings, Fawcett says Schrödinger's Books has become much more than an award-winning bookshop. It is a welcoming meeting place where stories connect people and where community has proved to be the greatest success story of all.
LOCATION: 137 Jackson Street, Petone, Lower Hutt
SOCIALS: petonebooks