Ngā Kaitā

The NZ arm of a multinational publisher, Allen & Unwin’s local publishing programme is largely nonfiction, though it also publishes some commercial and literary fiction, including work for children and YA. It encourages writers of all genres to submit first chapters and a synopsis via their ‘Friday Pitch’ opportunity.

A small press with a mission to ‘provide a publication platform for authors writing outside the mainstream.’ Anahera’s main focus is poetry collections and novels by Māori and Pasifika writers.

Auckland University Press currently publishes around 25 books a year.

‘With traditional strengths in history and politics, art and architecture, literature and poetry, Māori, Pacific and Asian Studies, the Press is also developing lists in science, business and health.’ AUP does not publish sole-author works of fiction.

AUP is the publisher of Puna Wai Kōrero: An Anthology of Māori Poetry in English (2014), edited by Reina Whaitiri and Robert Sullivan.

In 2021 AUP launched the first titles in the Kotahi Rau Pukapuka initiative.

Bateman Books publishes a select range of high-quality books, specialising in New Zealand illustrated non-fiction. They are open to receiving submissions from all genres, including children’s books and adult fiction, with the exception of poetry.

BWB Books is a nonfiction publisher of reference books and works on New Zealand history, Māori history, women’s issues, politics, economics and contemporary issues. Writers include scholars with international reputations alongside emerging writers and journalists. Bridget Williams’s long commitment to publishing with and for Māori includes work particularly with Ngāi Tahu and with Ngāi Tūhoe.

Over 50 titles are available in the BWB Texts series, described as ‘short books on big subjects from great New Zealand writers’, and available as print and e-books.

Canterbury University Press publishes around six books a year, and ‘has recognised expertise in history, biography, natural history and the environment, and books about our region.’

The Press does not consider new poetry or fiction submissions.

Compound Press are mainly focused on ‘poetry of the Pacific region while sea levels still permit.’ In addition to printing and binding their books in their own workshop, they produce the poetry journal Minarets.

The Cuba Press have a collaborative approach to publishing. ‘For the majority of our books we ask for a contribution towards the cost of production and marketing.’

‘We’re open to just about anything – memoir, short stories, junior and middle-grade fiction, genre writing (e.g. crime, spec fic, historical), etc.’

This small Auckland press is the publisher of poetry and story collections.

Gecko Press is an independent, international publisher of children’s books (ages 0–12), based in Wellington. Most of their books are translated from other languages, but they also have a number of te reo (translated) titles. At present they publish around 16 books a year.

Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand is part of Hachette Book Group, one of the world’s leading trade publishers. As well as publishing children’s books by NZ authors, Hachette has launched Moa Press for novels by NZ writers.

HarperCollins Aotearoa New Zealand is the nation’s oldest book publisher, dating back to Collins schoolbooks of the 1880s. Their publishing ‘is driven by a commitment to quality and creativity, as well as an innate sense of what Kiwis want to read and how’. Their local nonfiction list spans genres, and they welcome submissions ‘with a focus on extraordinary true stories’.

Established in 1991 by Robyn Bargh, Huia is a Māori owned independent publisher and ‘provides a platform for Māori writers and perspectives.’ A major part of their work is nurturing and developing new Māori writers, through initiatives like Te Papa Tupu and the Pikihuia Awards.

Huia publishes a wide range of genres and subjects, including literary fiction, short stories, poetry, junior fiction, graphic novels, Young Adult, children’s books, biography, history, politics, Māori culture, indigenous themes, post colonialism, and books in te reo Māori.

A small press based in Wellington, Lawrence & Gibson publishes fiction, including Alice Tawhai’s first novel Aljce in Therapy Land.

This small press publishes literary fiction only and is not currently accepting submissions.

Massey University Press publishes works by both the university’s top researchers, and authors outside the University. The list ranges over natural history, veterinary science and practice, design, art, photography, history, biography, memoir, architecture, military history and international studies. The Press also has a small poetry and children’s list.

This independent press based in West Auckland specialises in nonfiction and writing for children. Recent Māori titles include He Atua He Tangata: the World of Māori Mythology by A. W. Reed, revised by Ross Calman, and He Iti te Kupu: Māori Metaphors and Similes by Hona Black.

Penguin Books is New Zealand’s largest book publisher, releasing about 80–100 books a year, covering a broad subject range from literary fiction, history and biography, to lifestyle, cooking and children’s books. Penguin are looking for fiction, non-fiction and children’s books. They are not currently considering ‘poetry, romance, adult fantasy, adult science fiction, crime novels, educational text books or scripts.’

Penguin is also the publisher of the bestselling anthology Pūrākau: Māori Myths Retold by Māori Writers.

A boutique publishing house that specializes in literature, especially poetry. ‘Because we publish very little, we only publish work that we are completely in love with and which we feel needs to be out in the world.’

Te Papa Press is the award-winning publishing enterprise of New Zealand’s national museum, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. It publishes books on art, photography, design, natural history, Matauranga Māori, Pacific cultures and history. It also has a children’s list.

Te Tākupu is the publishing area of Te Wānanga o Raukawa, publishing books for adults and children based in kaupapa and tikanga Māori, as well as journals and reports.

Formerly known as Victoria University Press, THW publishes fiction and scholarly work, specialising in New Zealand history, biography and essays. THW publishes around 35 books a year.

Based in Auckland, Upstart has a nonfiction focus. Recent titles include Tikanga: An Introduction to te ao Māori by Keri Opai and Nine Lives: New Zealand Writers on Notable New Zealanders, which includes essays by Māori writers on Matiu Rata (Paula Morris) and Ranginui Walker (Malcolm Mulholland).