Unity Books

Unity Books
TypeIndependent
IndustryRetail, Books
Founded1967
FounderAlan Preston
HeadquartersWellington, Auckland, New Zealand
Number of locations
2
Key people
Directors:
Websitewww.unitybooks.co.nz

Unity Books is an independent New Zealand bookseller founded in Wellington by the New Zealand sportsman Alan Preston in 1967. It has a bookshop in Wellington, and separate adult and children's bookshops in adjacent premises in Auckland.[1][2]

History

Alan Preston, a successful cricket and soccer player, established Unity Books in 1967 after his brother died from a cricket ball accident in 1960, and a period of "intense soul-searching" and renewed interest in philosophy.[3] The first bookshop was in a small premises in the former Empire Building on 15–19 Willis Street.[4] The shop moved a short distance opposite to 42 Willis Street in 1972, when the Empire Building was due to be demolished the following year to make way for the construction of the Bank of New Zealand's new 20-storey BNZ Centre.[5]

In 1986 the store moved to Perrett's Corner, and opened its first branch in 1989 on Auckland's High Street. The Wellington bookshop moved again in 1998, to its current premises in Findex House at 57 Willis Street.[3]

In 2005 after Preston's death, the Wellington and Auckland bookshops were separately re-incorporated under new staff ownership.[6][7] The Wellington bookshop was further renovated and expanded in 2011, and celebrated its 45th anniversary the following year.[8][2] The Wellington bookshop is co-owned by Tilly Lloyd.[9]

Between 2014 and 2024, Unity Books Wellington was part of the "Culture Vulture" scheme, whereby customers could buy and redeem vouchers at any of Unity Books, Slow Boat Records, or Aro Video shops in Wellington.[10][11]

In 2018, Unity Books Auckland opened its children's bookshop "Little Unity" next door, on the corner of High Street and Vulcan Lane.[12] In 2020, the Auckland shop won the International Bookstore of the Year Award at the London Book Fair.[13] Since November 2024, the Wellington bookshop is managed by Susanna Andrew, former editor of North & South magazine.[14]

Notable events

Unity Books runs approximately 45 author events and launches per year and the shop works extensive off-site events as well. Except for 2 Festivals, Unity Books has been the contracted bookseller for Writers and Readers Week, the most intellectually muscled of the NZ literary festivals. In October 2013, Eleanor Catton's Man Booker prize-winning The Luminaries was launched at Unity Books.[15]

In August 2014, Nicky Hager's book Dirty Politics was launched at the Wellington bookshop with a media pack and crowd of approximately 250 people.[16][17][18]

References

  1. ^ "About Unity". unitybooks.co.nz. Wellington: Unity Books. Archived from the original on 7 July 2026. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  2. ^ a b Keber, Ruth (13 September 2012). "45 years of Unity Books". The Dominion Post. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014 – via Stuff.
  3. ^ a b McColl, Jo (2004). "Alan Preston". obituary. New Zealand Review of Books. 66 (Winter 2004). Archived from the original on 3 August 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  4. ^ Preston, Alan (1969). "Unity Books". advertisement. Salient. 32 (1). Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association: 11. Retrieved 13 August 2026 – via New Zealand Electronic Text Collection.
  5. ^ "Re-development Planned For Mid-City Thoroughfare". Urban Renewal: Empire Building Ltd: Willis Street: see also 20/16 - Kings Chambers / Bing Harris (Report). Town Planning Department, Wellington City Council. 1973. p. 10. Retrieved 13 August 2026 – via Te Kano Kohinga Kupu o Pōneke / Archives Online. Newspaper clipping from The Evening Post, 28 November 1972.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  6. ^ "Unity Books (Wellington) Limited". OpenCorporates. 2026. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  7. ^ "Unity Books (Auckland) Limited". OpenCorporates. 2026. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  8. ^ Shelton, Lindsay (31 May 2011). "A celebration at Unity Books, and other favourite places". Wellington.scoop.co.nz. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  9. ^ Dekker, Dianna (4 May 2013). "Meet Tilly Lloyd of Unity Books". The Dominion Post. Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2014 – via Stuff.
  10. ^ "Just in time: News about Gift Vouchers". Wellington: Unity Books. 1 December 2013. Archived from the original on 22 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  11. ^ Taylor, Jeremy (5 March 2024). "An Announcement on Culture Vulture Vouchers". Wellington: Slow Boat Records. Archived from the original on 3 February 2026. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  12. ^ Travers, Ange (4 October 2018). "Little Unity, Auckland". From the Shop Floor. The Sapling. Archived from the original on 18 April 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  13. ^ "Unity Books named International Book Store of the Year". Lately. RNZ National. Wellington: Radio New Zealand. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  14. ^ Unity Books (11 November 2024). "Bookaholic named as new manager of Unity Books Wellington" (press release). Wellington: Scoop Media. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  15. ^ "Photos: Award-winning novel attracted an over-full house to its launch at Unity Books". Scoop.co.nz. 16 October 2013. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  16. ^ Craig Potton Publishing (13 August 2014). "Dirty Politics: Nicky Hager's new book on the Key Government launched at Unity". Scoop. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  17. ^ David Fisher and Adam Bennet (13 August 2014). "Hager book: 'You will not believe what you read'". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  18. ^ Wong, Simon (13 August 2014). "Nicky Hager book shows National's 'dirty politics'". 3 News. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  • Profiles of Wellington and Auckland shops at Booksellers New Zealand
  • Unity Books on Facebook
  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Unity Books at Wikimedia Commons

41°17′16.13″S 174°46′32.43″E / 41.2878139°S 174.7756750°E / -41.2878139; 174.7756750

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