Oratia Books Catalogue is out now with an array of reading for 2026

The new Oratia Books Catalogue 2026 is out now in print and digital form.

This year's cover features art from the forthcoming picture book Mauri, by Merryn Jones and illustrated by Isobel Te Aho-White. 

The catalogue showcases 15 new titles for 2026, three which are out in stores already – starting with Philippa Werry's Wild Life: An Animal History of Aotearoa, the latest in The NZ Series, which published in February and has already reprinted. 

Tangaroa Paul and Luca Tu'avao Walton's Rere Atu ki Poronihia/Flight to Polynesia published in March, while this month's release, Ron Crosby's Keep Calm — We Are Coming, has been gaining nationwide publicity. 

Later in the year will bring a fantastic addition to Dawn McMillan and Ross Kinnaird's New Bum! Series, a further te reo Māori reference work by Hona Black, a sumptuous art book by Richard Wolfe and a new edition of classic myths and legends from the Pacific. 

Click here to read more or download the PDF, and to request a print copy please email info@oratia.co.nz

Oratia Books on the move to Upstart Distribution and Archetype Book Agents

From this Wednesday 1 April 2026, Upstart Distribution becomes the New Zealand distributor for Oratia Books titles, and sales representation moves to Archetype Book Agents. 

Based in Penrose, Auckland, Upstart Distribution is a highly regarded distributor of books for New Zealand publishers, and is led by legendary publishers Kevin Chapman and Pat Dunmore.

Archetype Book Agents, managed by industry stalwarts Neil Brown and Craig Gamble, has a network of respected sales agents across New Zealand. It represents many of the country’s leading publishers including Allen & Unwin and the university presses of Auckland, Massey, Te Herenga Waka and Otago. 

 

‘We look forward greatly to working with the talented Upstart and Archetype teams to take Oratia Books to readers throughout Aotearoa,’ commented Oratia Books’ publisher Peter Dowling. 

 

‘Our sincere appreciation to departing commissioned reps Gary Shannon, Dennis Morgan and Carol Kavanagh for their outstanding service to us over the years. All the best with your next chapters.

 

‘We also owe a debt of gratitude to our distributors since 2009, Bookreps NZ (previously Publishers Distribution Ltd) for their years of sterling work on our behalf.’ 

 

All orders for Oratia Books from April onwards should be directed to Upstart Distribution customer services: orders@upstartdist.nz, 09 280 3202. 

 

Look out for the Oratia Books Catalogue 2026, coming in April, for our growing list of new and backlist books. 

 

For any enquiries, please contact Peter (peter@oratia.co.nz) or Belinda Cooke, sales and marketing consultant (belinda@oratia.co.nz).

Chennai brings a world of publishing to a dynamic India

From 16–18 January I had the privilege of attending the fourth Chennai International Book Fair (CIBF) as one of the international publishing fellows invited from over 100 countries. 

Capital of the prosperous southern state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai represents India's fourth-largest urban agglomeration with a population around 9 million. The city is a hub for a host of manufacturing and creative industries, with a proud cultural tradition.

The Tamil Nadu state government is throwing its weight behind books and culture at a time when many governments in other places are turning away from support for the arts, reading and free debate. 

Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi (front left) gave time to meet with Peter along with other publishers in the CIBF Rights Hub

That enlightened approach – summarised in this year's theme 'A Conversation Between Civilisations' – has led to the CIBF fast becoming a vibrant hub for rights and cultural exchange in just four years. 

At this year's instalment I was able to meet with publishers, agents, writers, translators and consultants from across Tamil Nadu, other parts of India, and around the world.

At the opening ceremony on 16 January with the outstanding Colombian publisher John Naranjo, and meeting with colleagues Fatou Sy from Senegal and Nguyen Huu Quynh Huong from Vietnam 

Our international rights manager, Maria Leonardi, was also at the fair as she took a working break from current travels in India. 

Maria Leonardi, interviewed by CIBF for her impressions of the fair

Together we had several dozen formal meetings over three days, interspersed by the many networking opportunities that a fellowship affords. 

Of special import was advancing our edition of the classic Tamil work The Thirukkural, in a Māori translation by University of Waikato lecturer Ngairo Eruera edited by New Zealand-based editor and community organiser Peniel Prabhakaran.

With Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma, the outstanding American translator of The Thirukkural

That included showing an uncorrected proof of the book to Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and , and valuable discussion with American translator and poet Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma, whose superb English translation forms the bridge between Tamil and Māori in our edition. 

Most valuable also the reconnection with Dr Sankara Saravanan and Peer Mohamed Azees of the Tamil Nadu Texbook and Educational Services Corporation, which has licensed the publication of this modern translation of the sixth-century work by Thiruvalluvar. 

Te Tirukurare / The Thirukkural will publish under Oratia's Five Oceans imprint mid-2026 in close collaboration with Chennai-based Kelir Books and the Tamil community of Aotearoa. 

It was most encouraging to see the response to work by Oratia authors from science and history writer Matthew Wright to Kiwi-Indian children's author Renisa Maki. 

There is impressive growth in book output from Tamil Nadu, and it was good to meet publishers from Tamil Nadu and beyond to see what they're proposing.

A pleasure to catch up with Ival Bharathi of Nam Publications, Chennai, together with her family

Sharing good books with Chennai-based literary agent Vishali Janarthanan and colleagues

And sharing books about social inclusion with Maharasthra publisher Prashant Tambe

It was also opportune to share the Five Oceans edition of The Ant Rebellion with the Turkish literature agency TEDA, and Thank you, Forest with Benas Berantas of Book Smugglers Agency, Lithuania, who negotiated our rights acquisition. 

Memorable performances, panels and cultural presentations punctuated meetings at the Rights Hub, along with the superb cuisine on offer.

Now begins the work of sharing information and reading copies as we work to sell rights and reach new readers in India and beyond. 

Maria and I extend our sincere thanks to the fair organisers and all those in Chennai for their hospitality, generosity and commitment to bringing Tamil to the world and the world to Tamil.

The Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin at the closing ceremony with Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and other dignitaries

With further commitments to literary funding announced by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the fair's closing ceremony, the future looks bright for the CIBF and the reading culture of southern India.

Peter Dowling, Publisher

Oratia Media marks 25 years with launch of Five Oceans imprint

 

Oratia Media is celebrating its 25^th birthday, having been founded on 31 August 2000 by Peter Dowling and Alessandra Zecchini in Oratia, West Auckland. 

 

Initially a publishing services business for clients in New Zealand, Japan and Europe, Oratia Media later broadened its scope, while Peter maintained a full-time role at Reed Publishing (NZ).

Alessandra Zecchini

Business included cooking classes, food writing and styling, managing charity Te Potiki National Trust, business and travel journalism, teaching, translation and contract publishing. 

Hard work over those early years laid the foundation for the company’s own publishing under the Oratia Books brand. Since 2008 it has published more than 220 own and commissioned books. 

Peter Dowling

‘Sincere thanks to our team and all the authors, illustrators, clients, photographers, editors, designers, distributors, printers, booksellers, librarians, teachers, students, reviewers and readers who have been with us on this journey,’ the founders said today. 

 

Oratia Books’ philosophy is to publish and keep in print new and classic works, marketing across New Zealand with active distribution and rights deal worldwide. 

The Treaty of Waitangi, Margaret Mahy Book of the Year 2025 

That international approach led in 2021 to the BOP Bologna Prize for Best Children’s Publisher in Oceania. A further accolade came this month with Ross Calman’s The Treaty of Waitangi named Margaret Mahy Book of the Year in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. 

 

To mark its 25^th anniversary, Oratia Books is launching a new international imprint, Five Oceans. This new list will bring literary non-fiction and children’s books to Oceania from cultures whose works are under-represented in English, let alone in Polynesian languages. 

 

First comes The Ant Rebellion, a bestselling junior novel from Turkey, in October, then Finnish picture book Thank you, Forest in November. Books from India and Norway are next up in 2026. 

‘We look forward to extending Oratia’s activities to all five oceans of our planet,’ said Peter, who is developing the imprint with Rome-based Maria Leonardi, international rights manager.

 

‘With Five Oceans, we aim to bring outstanding writing and illustration into our languages, while encouraging cultural exchange to and from Aotearoa.’

Ross Calman's The Treaty of Waitangi is Margaret Mahy Book of the Year

Ross Calman at Wednesday's ceremony in Wellington (courtesy New Zealand Book Awards Trust/Vijay Paul) 

Ngā mihi nui ki a Ross Calman — Hearty congratulations to Ross Calman!

Ross's book The Treaty of Waitangi won the coveted Margaret Mahy Book of the Year award at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults ceremony in Wellington this past Wednesday 13 August. 

The Treaty of Waitangi also won the Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction. 

Oratia Books editorial director Carolyn Lagahetau with Ross Calman at the awards night

'On behalf of everyone at Oratia, our warmest mihis to Ross Calman on this achievement,' said Oratia Books publisher Peter Dowling. 

'Ross has made a significant contribution to books in Aotearoa over more than 25 years, and our publishing relationship dates back to when I was starting as a senior editor at Reed Publishing (NZ). This honour is welcome recognition of his talents and mahi. 

'My sincere thanks to the hard-working judges and organisers of the awards, and to the Oratia team behind both this book and the rest of The NZ Series — especially editorial director Carolyn Lagahetau and designer Sarah Elworthy.'

Congratulations to all the award winners!

New team members bring wide experience to help grow Oratia Books

Halfway through the year and things are humming along at Oratia Books. 

Our aim is for brilliant people to work with Oratia and not for us. The company’s flat and dispersed structure reflects that, with a mix of fixed and freelance contributors, working from home in different parts of the country and world. 

 

This year we’re pleased to have formalised working relationships with several collaborators and friends. We welcome these four publishing professionals who are helping to grow Oratia Books:

 

Mike Bradstock has taken on the role of editor-at-large for Oratia Books, from his base in Raumati South, Wellington. A vastly experienced publisher and writer, Mike was for many years publisher of Canterbury University Press, and before then a managing editor with Bateman Books and Reed Publishing. Mike is making a valued contribution in commissioning, editing and proofing for Oratia. 

Sharon Whitaker has come on board to manage the printing, production and shipping of Oratia Books. Based in Papamoa in the Bay of Plenty, Sharon is a renowned production manager who contracts to select publishing clients. During a long career at Reed Publishing, she managed multiple projects across trade and educational titles, working closely with Carolyn and Peter.

 

Sam Hill keeps the Reed connection alive, having joined Oratia as a freelance editor. He worked in editorial and distribution over his time at the Reed offices in Rawene Road, Birkenhead. Now based up the road in Glenfield, Sam is engaged in both editorial and marketing work for Oratia (sam@oratia.co.nz). 

Internationally, Maria Leonardi is managing the acquisition of international books under our new Five Oceans imprint. Based in Rome, Italy, Maria is a dual Italian and New Zealand citizen who has many years of experience in international rights and editorial management with publishing houses including nottetempo, Nutrimenti and La Nuova Frontiera. 

Maria Leonardi with Peter Dowling at the Bologna Children's Book Fair

Maria managed the New Zealand stand at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in 2022, and has attended the fair with Peter in the past two years.

 

A warm welcome to Mike, Sharon, Sam and Maria. 

 

They join our key contributors Frances Chan, Hirini Tane, Ella Fischer, Cheryl Smith and Sarah Elworthy in assisting the mahi of our senior team – Belinda Cooke, Carolyn Lagahetau, Alessandra Zecchini and Peter Dowling. 

Oratia Books Catalogue 2025 highlights 17 new books for adults and kids

The Oratia Books Catalogue 2025 is out now in print and digital form.

This year we're delighted to profile 15 additions to Oratia Books and two for our international Five Oceans imprint — alongside the more than 130 books we keep in print. 

New in 2025 is our selection of Audiobooks (see page 9 of the catalogue), offering six choices across te reo reference, children's storybooks and YA fiction.

Three new books add to the growing Moana Oceania series, curated by editorial director Carolyn Lagahetau. 

From October Five Oceans will actively bring books from around the world into English and Pacific languages for readers across Oceania, with the outstanding Turkish junior novel The Ant Rebellion and fabulous Finnish picture book Forest Field Notes launching.

Many more New Zealand authors and illustrators fill the pages of this catalogue, which draws from Oratia Books' grounding in Te Wao-nui-o-Tiriwa, the Waitakere Ranges forest, guarded by the ruru (native owl).

Click here to view or download the PDF, or to request a print copy please email info@oratia.co.nz

Photo-packed introduction to the people, culture and identity of Fiji arrives in new bilingual book

Moana Oceania Series: Fiji - Viti
Tarisi Vunidilo

Despite Fiji being among the largest Pacific Island nations, there is a dearth of good books about the country in print. 

 

This fourth volume in the Moana Oceania Series aims to address that situation with highly illustrated text in English and Fijian.

 

Fijian–New Zealand educator Tarisi Vunidilo introduces the people, culture and identity of her homeland in simple terms in the colourful and informative Moana Oceania: Fiji - Viti.

 

The bilingual text offers insights into society, geography, legends, arts, history and language — outlining the values of Fiji’s people, and how families live and celebrate life. 

 

A section is dedicated to the more than 20,000 Fijians who live in New Zealand and how they remain connected to their culture.

The striking design with info boxes, colour photos, illustrations and maps make Fiji – Viti  fun to read — and it’s easy to relate the English to the Fijian text.

This and other books in the series are contributing to the use of indigenous languages: Fiji – Viti will hit the bookstores just before Fiji Day (the national day, on 10 October) and during Macawa ni Vosa VakaViti – Fijian Language Week, which runs from 6–12 October 2024. 

 

The author

Tarisi Vunidilo is a Fijian-New Zealand archaeologist and curator who specialises in indigenous museum and heritage management. Born in Suva, Fiji she has taught at universities in New Zealand, Fiji and Hawaii. She is currently an assistant professor at California State University, Los Angeles, and hosts the Talanoa with Dr T society and culture website.  

Publication Date: 10 October 2024 |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004240-9 |  RRP $29.99

Paperback, 230 x 170 mm portrait, 48 pages, colour

Oratia Books Catalogue 2024 out now

The Oratia Books Catalogue 2024 is out now in print and digital form.

This year we're delighted to profile 16 books alongside a growing backlist, as the introduction below outlines.

Thanks once more to Cheryl Smith for the catalogue design, and Simon and team at Haysom Print for the print job. 

Click here to view or download the PDF, or to request a print copy please email info@oratia.co.nz

Welcome to this catalogue for Oratia Books’ new titles for 2024 and our growing backlist of published works. 

Here are authors, illustrators and stories that resonate wherever you read. To take a sample: Richard Wolfe traces the culture of ‘kiwi’ and ‘Kiwi’, Melanie Drewery and Suzanne Simpson share Nanny Mihi’s gardening wisdom, while Jeff Szusterman and Ant Sang serve up a graphic novel with a message. 

Diverse views speak from our first release — the ebullient Rere Atu Taku Poi! Let My Poi Fly! — through to the landmark Ngāi Tahu history of the West Coast, Poutini (an image from that book features on the cover). 

From our base in Oratia we continue to explore internationally. Two additions to the bestselling New Bum! series are publishing globally as well as Down Under, while the Moana Oceania series brings content in Fijian and Samoan as well as English. 

Bilingual te reo Māori and English is the standard for many books, including the new language resource Ngā Hapa Reo. 

Thanks for reading on.