Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones - Commonwealth Writers' Prize 2007

I read this week in The Age (Melbourne) that Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones has won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize.
Article here.. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/text-book-sets-the-standard-again/2007/05... . Has there been much publicity in New Zealand about this?
What do fellow kiwis think of the book? There's only one review listed.

It sounds like it's more Pacific fiction than NZ fiction?

My mother's read it, and I'm wanting to - as soon as I find where she put the book. I think it was mentioned in the Herald yesterday - anyway I had heard about it.

This is NZ fiction in that the author is decidedly a NZer. But as NZ is firmly a Pacific Nation then It is Pacific fiction as well. The connection made via the Dickens story line from the Pacific to the UK is certainly a very NZ feature. Not sure if there is a useful distinction to be made.
The book is fantastic - a good read on several levels. Faultless writing, great storyline.

It is also about a Wellingtonian in the Pacific. There have been a lot of good reviews of it since it was on the booker short list.

The book is interesting but not in my top 10.

I thought it was 4/5 of a very good, perhaps even a great, book. Unfortunately, for me, the story lost focus and interest once the leading character left Bougainville. It would have been a much better book without that final section.