Unity Books

Unity Books is an independent New Zealand bookseller established in Wellington in 1967 by Alan Preston, a successful cricket and football player who turned toward books and philosophy after the death of his brother in a cricket-ball accident. From its beginnings in a small shop in Wellington's former Empire Building, the business developed into one of New Zealand's best-known specialist booksellers, with a strong emphasis on serious fiction, nonfiction, philosophy, politics, literary culture, and books by local authors. The Wellington store has occupied several central-city locations. It began at 15–19 Willis Street, moved across the road to 42 Willis Street in 1972 when the Empire Building was scheduled for demolition, transferred to Perrett's Corner in 1986, and relocated in 1998 to its present premises at 57 Willis Street in Findex House. The Wellington shop was renovated and enlarged in 2011. Its central location and literary orientation have made it a regular venue for author appearances, book launches, and festival-related activity. Unity Books expanded to Auckland in 1989 with a shop on High Street. The Auckland operation later developed a dedicated children's outlet, Little Unity, which opened next door in 2018 at the corner of High Street and Vulcan Lane. The Auckland adult and children's shops operate as distinct but adjacent retail spaces. In 2020, Unity Books Auckland received the International Bookstore of the Year award at the London Book Fair, giving the independent retailer international recognition within the bookselling industry. Following Alan Preston's death in 2005, the Wellington and Auckland operations were separately re-incorporated under staff ownership. This structure preserved the stores' independent identity while allowing the two locations to operate as separate businesses. The Wellington shop is co-owned by Tilly Lloyd. Since November 2024, it has been managed by Susanna Andrew, a former editor of North & South magazine. The brand's role extends beyond conventional retail. Unity Books organizes approximately 45 author events and launches annually and also supplies books for events held away from its premises. It has served as the contracted bookseller for Writers and Readers Week at many editions of the New Zealand Festival, apart from two festivals. Notable Wellington events have included the October 2013 launch of Eleanor Catton's The Luminaries, which later won the Man Booker Prize, and the August 2014 launch of Nicky Hager's Dirty Politics, which attracted substantial media attention and an audience of about 250 people. Between 2014 and 2024, Unity Books Wellington also participated in the Culture Vulture voucher scheme with Slow Boat Records and Aro Video. The program enabled customers to buy and redeem vouchers across the participating Wellington cultural retailers. Unity Books therefore occupies a hybrid position: it is a specialist retailer, a venue for public discussion, and an infrastructure partner for New Zealand's literary festivals and publishing community.

Unity Books was founded in Wellington in 1967 by Alan Preston, a New Zealand sportsman whose personal interest in philosophy deepened after his brother died in a cricket-ball accident in 1960. Preston opened the first shop in a small premises in the former Empire Building at 15–19 Willis Street. The store's early identity was shaped by independent bookselling and an interest in intellectually substantial literature rather than by the scale or breadth of a department-store chain. In 1972, the shop moved a short distance to 42 Willis Street because the Empire Building was due to be demolished for the development of the Bank of New Zealand's new 20-storey BNZ Centre. Unity Books later moved to Perrett's Corner in 1986. Its first Auckland branch opened on High Street in 1989, marking the beginning of a two-city presence while retaining the character of an independent specialist retailer. The Wellington store moved again in 1998, settling at 57 Willis Street in Findex House, where it remains. The premises were renovated and expanded in 2011. The following year the business marked its 45th anniversary. After Preston's death in 2005, the Wellington and Auckland bookshops were separately re-incorporated under new staff ownership. The change maintained the stores' independence while distinguishing the ownership and management of the two operations. Tilly Lloyd became a co-owner of the Wellington shop. Unity Books has developed a significant events and cultural-programming role. The Wellington store runs roughly 45 author events and launches in a typical year and undertakes extensive off-site bookselling. With the exception of two festivals, it has been the contracted bookseller for Writers and Readers Week, a literary program associated with the New Zealand Festival. The shop hosted the launch of Eleanor Catton's The Luminaries in October 2013 and Nicky Hager's Dirty Politics in August 2014. These events illustrate the store's importance as a public venue for literary and political discussion. From 2014 to 2024, Unity Books Wellington participated in Culture Vulture, a Wellington voucher arrangement shared with Slow Boat Records and Aro Video. Customers could purchase and redeem vouchers across the participating businesses, linking bookselling with other independent cultural retail activities in the city. The Auckland business expanded its specialist offer in 2018 when it opened Little Unity, a children's bookshop in the neighboring premises at the corner of High Street and Vulcan Lane. In 2020, Unity Books Auckland won the International Bookstore of the Year award at the London Book Fair. The recognition highlighted the quality and cultural reach of an independent New Zealand bookseller beyond its domestic market. Since November 2024, Susanna Andrew, previously editor of North & South magazine, has managed Unity Books Wellington. The business remains active as a bookseller, event host, and bookselling partner for literary activity in New Zealand. Its history is characterized by repeated central-city relocations, expansion from one Wellington shop into an Auckland operation, staff ownership, and a continuing commitment to literary culture.

1. 2024Susanna Andrew becomes Wellington manager

   Andrew takes over management of Unity Books Wellington in November.

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2. 2020Auckland wins International Bookstore of the Year

   The Auckland shop receives the International Bookstore of the Year award at the London Book Fair.

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3. 2018Little Unity opens in Auckland

   A dedicated children's bookshop opens next door to the Auckland store.

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4. 2011Wellington shop is renovated and expanded

   The Wellington premises undergo renovation and expansion.

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5. 2005Wellington and Auckland operations become separately staff-owned

   Following Alan Preston's death, the two shops are separately re-incorporated under new staff ownership.

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6. 1998Wellington store moves to 57 Willis Street

   The Wellington shop moves into its current premises in Findex House.

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7. 1989First Auckland branch opens

   Unity Books establishes its Auckland presence on High Street.

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8. 1986Wellington store moves to Perrett's Corner

   Unity Books changes Wellington premises as part of its early expansion and relocation history.

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9. 1972Wellington shop moves to 42 Willis Street

   The store relocates across Willis Street ahead of the planned demolition of the Empire Building.

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10. 1967Unity Books is founded in Wellington

    Alan Preston establishes Unity Books in a small shop in the former Empire Building on Willis Street.

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An independent, culturally engaged bookseller focused on carefully selected fiction and nonfiction, New Zealand writing, children's literature, author events, and participation in the country's literary ecosystem.

• General booksBookselling1967

  Unity Books sells a curated range of fiction and nonfiction, with particular visibility for literary writing, philosophy, politics, current affairs, culture, and New Zealand authors. The stores function as specialist bookshops rather than general merchandise retailers.

• Children's booksChildren's bookselling2018

  Little Unity is the Auckland children's bookshop opened in 2018 beside the adult Unity Books store. It provides a dedicated environment for children's literature and extends the brand's specialist retail offer to younger readers and families.

• Author events and launchesCultural programming

  The business organizes approximately 45 author events and book launches each year and also supplies books for off-site events and literary festivals. These activities make Unity Books both a retailer and a platform for public engagement with writers and ideas.

• 2014Culture Vulture

  Wellington

  Unity Books Wellington participated in a shared voucher scheme with Slow Boat Records and Aro Video. Customers could use vouchers across the three independent cultural retailers.

  Outcome. The scheme operated from 2014 through 2024, linking bookselling with other Wellington cultural businesses.

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• Writers and Readers Week bookselling

  New Zealand

  Unity Books has frequently served as the contracted bookseller for Writers and Readers Week and supports literary activity through on-site and off-site sales.

  Outcome. The partnership has helped position the stores within New Zealand's literary-festival infrastructure.

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• 2024Change in Wellington store managementStrategy

  Unity Books Wellington continued operating as an independent specialist bookseller with a strong events program.

  What changed. Susanna Andrew became manager of the Wellington shop in November 2024.

  Aftermath. The store continued under new day-to-day management, with Andrew bringing prior editorial experience from North & South magazine.

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• 2018Opening of Little UnityProduct launch

  Unity Books Auckland had operated on High Street since 1989 and expanded its specialist retail footprint.

  What changed. The Auckland operation opened a dedicated children's bookshop next door at the corner of High Street and Vulcan Lane.

  Aftermath. The adjacent Little Unity store broadened the Auckland business's offer to children's literature and family customers.

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• 2005Separate staff ownership after founder's deathStrategy

  Alan Preston died in 2005 after establishing Unity Books and developing its Wellington and Auckland presence.

  What changed. The Wellington and Auckland bookshops were separately re-incorporated under new staff ownership rather than continuing as a single founder-owned operation.

  Aftermath. The two locations retained independent bookseller identities, with the Wellington operation co-owned by Tilly Lloyd.

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• 2024Susanna Andrew becomes manager of Unity Books Wellington

  Since November 2024, the Wellington shop has been managed by Susanna Andrew, formerly an editor of North & South magazine.

  Leadership change
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• 2020Unity Books Auckland wins International Bookstore of the Year

  The Auckland shop received the International Bookstore of the Year award at the London Book Fair.

  Other
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• 2014Unity Books hosts launch of Dirty Politics

  Nicky Hager's Dirty Politics was launched at the Wellington shop in August 2014, drawing a media pack and an audience of approximately 250 people.

  CampaignOther
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• 2013Unity Books hosts launch of The Luminaries

  Eleanor Catton's The Luminaries was launched at Unity Books Wellington in October 2013 before the novel won the Man Booker Prize.

  CampaignProduct launch
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1. Unity Books
2. Unity Books Wellington official website