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Te Herenga Waka University Press
@thwupbooks.bsky.social
570 followers 110 following 390 posts
Aotearoa's leading publisher of new fiction, poetry and nonfiction. Formerly Victoria University Press.
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thwupbooks.bsky.social
Happy publication day to Tusiata Avia! Giving Birth to My Father is an extraordinary new collection from one of our country’s most important voices.
Cover art: Pati Solomona Tyrell
teherengawakapress.co.nz/products/giv...
November 6, 2025 at 5:20 AM
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Happy publication day to Christina Barton! Out of the Blue: Essays on Artists from Aotearoa New Zealand 1985–2021 is art writing at its best and most engaging and a vital piece of New Zealand history.
teherengawakapress.co.nz/products/out...
November 6, 2025 at 5:19 AM
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Happy publication day to Harry Ricketts! Bonfires on the Ice is out today. This is a beautiful, intelligent and funny book.
Cover (woodcut): Dave Kent
Cover (design): Todd Atticus
teherengawakapress.co.nz/products/bon...
November 6, 2025 at 5:17 AM
thwupbooks.bsky.social
Another extremely exciting book coming in February 2026 is Bill Manhire's Lyrical Ballads. A dazzling blend of story and song where collisions between wonder and reality create unforgettable poems.

@pacificraft.bsky.social
Cover: Todd Atticus

More here: teherengawakapress.co.nz/products/lyr...
November 5, 2025 at 3:16 AM
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We're thrilled to announce that in February 2026, Breton Dukes will make his debut as a novelist with Party Boy, a tender, shocking and comic portrait of a man on the edge.

Cover: Dudley Benson

More info and pre-orders here: teherengawakapress.co.nz/products/par...
The cover of the novel says PARTY BOY in large colourful block letters which overlap, over a background of raw, marbled meat. Smaller text on top of some of the large block letters says 'PARTY BOY BRETON DUKES' A quote from Damien Wilkins reads: 'A novel I've been hoping for! Party Boy is a shock of a book about damaged males, about being a father, a husband, a son, an idiot, someone trying to make amends. Somehow it manages to be both pulse-rattling and poetic, and from its daring mix of comedy and terror, what arrives is finally a deeply affecting portrait of a man on the edge.'
November 4, 2025 at 2:18 AM
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Join us to launch a new book of poetry by the incredible Tusiata Avia.

🔹 Saturday 15 November, 5pm
🔹 Space Academy
🔹 371 St Asaph Street, Christchurch
🔹 All welcome!

Books will be for sale with thanks to Scorpio Books, and kai and refreshments will be provided.

www.facebook.com/share/16ZAvv...
On a pale blue background, black text reads 'Join us for the launch of Giving Birth to My Father. Saturday 15 November, 5pm. Space Academy, Christchurch.' There is a photo of the book cover and the logos for Scorpio Books and Te Herenga Waka University Press.
November 3, 2025 at 4:21 AM
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Check out our November news, which includes the announcement of our first five books to be published in 2026!

mailchi.mp/wgtn.ac.nz/t...
The THWUP logo in white on a blue background, followed by the words 'November news'
November 3, 2025 at 12:49 AM
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6pm Thursday at Unity Wellington, all welcome! :)
November 2, 2025 at 9:13 AM
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Michelle will be interviewed by Thom Conroy at Palmerston North library tonight!

www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
The author has short hair, a thoughtful expression and red lipstick. She is wearing a pink jacket and standing in front of a tree full of pink blossom.
October 31, 2025 at 12:42 AM
thwupbooks.bsky.social
Join us at Unity Wellington next week to hear Charles Ferrall in conversation with Michalia Arathimos about his new book South by South: New Zealand and the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

⛵ 21 October, 12:30–1:15pm
⛵ Unity Books Wellington
⛵ Free–all welcome!

www.facebook.com/share/19n6Uv...
The author is shown, smiling with his arms crossed. He has a short white beard and a green shirt. Text around him says, "Lunchtime author talk: Charles Ferrall in conversation with Michalia Arathimos. 21 October 12:30-1:15pm, Unity Books Wellington."
October 15, 2025 at 6:25 AM
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Join us to celebrate Bonfires on the Ice by Harry Ricketts!

🪵 Thursday 6 November, 6pm
🪵 Unity Books Wellington
🪵 Free event. All welcome!

The book will be launched by Ashleigh Young, with readings from Jenny Bornholdt, Tim Grgec, Gregory O'Brien, and the author himself.
October 13, 2025 at 12:05 AM
thwupbooks.bsky.social
Happy publication day to Ingrid Horrocks! All Her Lives is a collection of fiction celebrating women’s lives and their search for love and freedom. We are proud to publish this book today and look forward to celebrating its launch this evening at Unity Books Wellington 💚
The cover of all her lives is shown on a plain background. The cover is a painting by Sarak Wilkins of a young dark-haired woman in a white shirt and green tie. It says "All Her Lives. Nine Stories. Ingrid Horrocks.' Three quotes from reviews are shown on a blue and green background: ‘I’ll be thinking about it for a long time – a book of quiet force.’ Emily Perkins ‘There’s a biographer’s awareness of defining moments or meetings, of motivation and revelation, of the social forces that shape behaviour. None of Horrocks’s characters exist in a vacuum.’ The Listener ‘The collection reads as a protest song book, calling through the ages for change, revolution and peace.’ Laura Jean McKay
October 9, 2025 at 3:25 AM
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'I’ve got two teenagers at home. Life is busy. I’ve been drawn to books that offer the intensity of an encounter with a whole world over just a few sittings.' Here's what Ingrid Horrocks has been reading:
www.thepress.co.nz/culture/3608...
October 5, 2025 at 3:48 AM
thwupbooks.bsky.social
'Gee's O Trilogy was so important to me when I was 10. I met the guy in my late 30s and didn't tell him this of course. We are supposed to look back and regret such cowardly moments but I don't. There's an honour in not bothering people.' —Nick Ascroft. www.thepress.co.nz/culture/3608...
September 21, 2025 at 7:30 PM
thwupbooks.bsky.social
We've been running a book giveaway on our Instagram to mark Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. All you need to do is comment a whakataukī on our latest photo to be in the running to a copy of a very special book; Ngā Pēpeha a ngā Tīpuna. We will draw a winner on Monday :)

www.instagram.com/thwupbooks/
A stack of seven different copies of Ngā Pēpeha a ngā Tīpuna, and an eighth copy standing beside them. The books have various cover colours, and some have the old VUP logo while others have the newer THW logo.
September 19, 2025 at 3:47 AM
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Join us next month to launch Isaac Featherston 'Petatone': A Colonial Life by John E. Martin. The book will be launched by Charlotte Macdonald.

⛵ Tuesday 7 October, 6pm
⛵ Unity Books Wellington
⛵ All welcome!

More info here: www.facebook.com/share/14Kzj3...
The slide says 'Join us for the launch of Isaac Featherston 'Petatone.' Tuesday 7 October, 6pm. Unity Books Wellington. It features the Unity Books and Te Herenga Waka University Press logos and a photo of John E. Martin's book cover. The book cover is an oil painting by William Beetham of Dr. Featherston and two Maori Chiefs, Wi Tako and Te Puni.
September 15, 2025 at 3:56 AM
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Join us to celebrate All Her Lives: Nine Stories by Ingrid Horrocks. The book will be launched by Emily Perkins.

🌿 Thursday 9 October, 6pm
🌿 Unity Books Wellington
🌿 Free event – all welcome!

Cover: Sarah Wilkins

www.facebook.com/share/19atXe...
The cover of the book shows a young woman in a white shirt, green tie and red skirt sitting down and looking thoughtful. Text around the cover says: 'Join us for the launch of All Her Lives. Thursday 9 October 6pm. Unity Books Wellington.' The logos of THWUP and Unity Books are in the corner. A quote in red text on a green background: 'All Her Lives is a reckoning. A stunning tour de force of women’s lives across centuries, continents and political movements. The collection reads as a protest song book, calling through the ages for change, revolution and peace. Horrocks is one of the most powerful storytellers of our time and All Her Lives is the author's most triumphant work.’ Laura Jean McKay
September 11, 2025 at 10:57 PM
thwupbooks.bsky.social
It's publication day for How to Save Democracy in Aotearoa New Zealand by Sir Geoffrey Palmer.

Cover: Todd Atticus

teherengawakapress.co.nz/products/how...
The book cover is shown. It is black with the author's name, Geoffrey Palmer, in white at the top. Large green and white type takes up the rest of the page, saying 'How to Save Democracy in Aotearoa New Zealand' The author, Sir Goeffrey Palmer, is shown with his arms crossed, smiling, in an office.
September 11, 2025 at 1:51 AM
thwupbooks.bsky.social
It's publication day for It's What He Would've Wanted by Nick Ascroft. Congratulations, Nick!

teherengawakapress.co.nz/products/its...
The book cover is of-white. It has the title in black text, 'It's What He Would've Wanted,' and the author's name in orange text, 'Nick Ascroft'. A line drawing shows a man being shot out of a cannon towards an orange sun. A photo of the author. Nick is a pakeha man with short, dark hair.
September 11, 2025 at 12:03 AM
thwupbooks.bsky.social
Happy publication day to Charles Ferrall! South by South: New Zealand and the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration is out today.
teherengawakapress.co.nz/products/sou...
September 10, 2025 at 10:49 PM
thwupbooks.bsky.social
Some of the biggest bargains of our August sale are these boxsets. Monumental in size, meticulous in detail, and beautifully designed, the complete poems and complete prose of James K Baxter are usually $200 a set but currently $100, while the collected letters are usually $100 and are now only $50.
In THWUP's office, full of books in the background, someone is hiding between three huge boxsets stacked in a pile. The person is barely visible behind the books, just their arms coming out. This photo shows the backs of the boxsets, which have beautiful paintings on them by Nigel Brown. In THWUP's office, full of books in the background, someone is hiding between three huge boxsets stacked in a pile. The person is barely visible behind the books, just their arms coming out. This photo shows the spines side of the boxsets, which lists the volume number and name of each volume - 2 x collected letters, 4 x complete poems, and 4 x complete prose.
August 30, 2025 at 6:16 AM
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Driven to total silliness by a month of packing and posting 1500 books sold in the August sale, the THWUP team are shown here cowering together in a stairwell with various volumes of Selected Poems on their heads. Buy some Selected Poems! Half price!
teherengawakapress.co.nz/collections/...
A photo taken from above of five people on a stairwell, all holding a book over their head so you can't see their face. The books, clockwise from the left, are: Vincent O'Sullivan, BEING HERE, Selected Poems; Jenny Bornholdt, Miss New Zealand, Selected Poems; Bill Manhire, Selected Poems; James Brown, Selected Poems; and Harry Ricketts, Selected Poems.
August 29, 2025 at 6:16 AM
thwupbooks.bsky.social
Join us to celebrate the publication of Charles Ferrall's South by South: New Zealand and the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. The book will be launched by Harry Ricketts.

❄️ Thursday 18 September, 6pm
❄️ Unity Books Wellington
❄️ Free event – all welcome!

www.facebook.com/share/1Fq6FJ...
On a dark blue gradient background, white text says: 'Join us for the launch of South by South, Thursday 18 September, 6pm, Unity Books Wellington.' The book cover is shown, a black and white photo of ships at sea with red text over the top saying 'SOUTH BY SOUTH,' blue text saying 'New Zealand and the heroic age of Antarctic Exploration,' and grey text saying 'Charles Ferrall.' The logos for Unity Books Wellington and THWUP are in the corner.
August 28, 2025 at 2:53 AM
thwupbooks.bsky.social
Or some Catherine Chidgey backlist?!

teherengawakapress.co.nz/collections/...
Two friends' torsos are shown, cut off at the head and legs. Each is holding two Catherine Chidgey books - the one on the left holds The Wish Child and The Transformation, the one on the right holds Remote Sympathy and The Beat of the Pendulum.
August 24, 2025 at 7:29 AM
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Our final week of sale is about to begin! This is your last chance to get these half-price book treats, with free post within New Zealand...

How about some amazing Pip Adam books for $15 each?
teherengawakapress.co.nz/collections/...
a beautiful dog with big brown eyes and pointed ears sits in the middle of a green couch with a copy of The New Animals by Pip Adam in front of her. People are sitting out of shot on either side of the dog, and their hands come into the frame holding Nothing to See by Pip Adam and Everything We Hoped For by Pip Adam.
August 24, 2025 at 7:26 AM