Unity Books

Unity Books is an independent New Zealand bookseller. It has a flagship store in Wellington, and a location in Auckland with separate adult and children's bookshops.^[1]

Unity Books logo

The business was founded by Alan Preston in 1967.^[2]

Wellington store

In 2012, the Wellington store celebrated its 45 anniversary, although it has only been at its current location for 16 years.^[2] The store, on Willis Street in central Wellington, was renovated and expanded in 2011.^[3] The store is co-owned and managed by Tilly Lloyd.^[4]

Unity Books Wellington is part of the "Culture Vulture" scheme, whereby customers can buy vouchers and redeem them at any of Unity Books, Slow Boat Records, or Aro Video.^[5]

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 the store.^[6]

In August 2014, Nicky Hager's book Dirty Politics was launched at the store with a media pack and crowd of approximately 250.^[7][8][9]