Tokotoko Taiwan
The New Zealand Pavilion for the country’s Guest of Honour presence at the Taipei International Book Fair (11 – 16 February) is intended to provide homage to literature around the theme ‘open hearts, open minds, open books.’
The design incorporates strong Māori cultural elements which serve to connect the indigenous culture of the Taiwanese people with New Zealand.
Architect Andrew Patterson says the form of three Māori orators’ sticks or Tokotokos reflect that in the Māori tradition of oral literature, the Tokotoko is a symbol of the authority to speak.
The three Taipei Tokotokos are cardboard, laser-cut into contemporary New Zealand patterns and stained with red ink to provide space for listeners around a central orator, so in this case the authority to speak lies as much with the listener as the orator and a conversation ensues. The space features 18 publisher stands and accommodates up to 100 people as a reading area or a seated author event, and up to 230 people as a standing event space,
For up-to-date news on New Zealand’s Guest of Honour programme including the latest on the Visiting Author Programme visit our TIBE blog here.
Christmas sales brings cheer
Comments from PANZ Vice-President Melanie Laville-Moore
What a difference a few months of solid book sales can make to one’s mood when back behind the desk for a new year of publishing. I think I can speak for many of our members when I write of the relief  brought on by the upswing in book sales from September onwards. One by one, many of Allen & Unwin’s customers had been reporting incredible sales growth during the critical December frenzy. And having seen the Nielsen analysis from the year-end, it’s easy to understand why their excitement had been difficult to contain: Christmas period sales were up 8.5% in volume and a jaw-dropping 10.5% in value on the on those of 2013. Non-fiction sales for this period are especially notable with over 20% growth.
It’s fantastic to think of all those extra books gift-wrapped under trees, and to know that books are firmly
back on the map as a gift of choice for many New Zealanders. And it’s also safe to assume that the sales recovery of physical books that many other markets around the world have seen, has now reached New Zealand shores. January re-orders are certainly healthy, and the mood of booksellers and publishers alike far more positive than they’ve been in years. Long may it last!
Archetype and Upstart jointly take on VUP and Gecko distribution
 
As a result of the Random House distribution move, both VUP and Gecko Press will be moving distribution to Upstart Press, and Gecko Press will be moving sales to Archetype, who already sell the VUP list.
Upstart will change its distribution to a new facility in Penrose, and operate under Upstart Distribution. New details of the location and bank account will be provided to all customers very soon.
Archetype will take on sales for Gecko for titles published from the 1st of May 2015 and thereafter. Orders for March and April titles sold by Random House will be transferred to Upstart to invoice and ship.
Random House will cease to distribute both presses with effect 27 th February. Upstart Distribution will commence for both presses on the 2 nd of March 2015.
Fergus Barrowman of VUP commented: “VUP are looking forward to being part of Kevin and Pat’s exciting new venture. Upstart will be an important addition to New Zealand’s book industry. And we are delighted to continue our long-term relationship with Neil and the Archetype crew. At the same time, we are very sorry to see Random House NZ cease distribution. We have had exceptional support from them, and wish all of their staff well in their future endeavours.”
Julia Marshall of Gecko Press also commented: “Gecko Press is very pleased to be working with Neil and the Archetype reps and Kevin and Pat of Upstart Press. And I would like to thank Nicola and all the staff at Random House for eight years of tremendous dedication to Gecko Press sales and distribution.”
New Year Honours for authors
Noted children’s novelist Fleur Beale (pictured left) and military historian and
author Chris Pugsley were both appointed Officers of the Order of New Zealand in the New Year Honours list announced on 31 December, as was another noted military historian, Monty Soutar.
Members of the Order of New Zealand announced at the same time included children’s literature advocate Libby Limbrick and food writer Jo Seagar.
Peter Williams QC, whose memoir The Dwarf that Moved was recently released by HarperCollins, became a Knight Companion of the Order of New Zealand.
Resolution of CLNZ dispute with Universities of New Zealand
Paula Browning, Chief Executive, Copyright Licensing New Zealand, says she is pleased to be able to inform New Zealand authors and publishers that the licensing dispute with Universities New Zealand (UNZ) which resulted in a reference to the Copyright Tribunal has been resolved.
A new pilot licensing scheme has been agreed for the 2015/16 academic years that will enable the universities to provide access to content for their students utilising new technologies. The systems will have a direct benefit to rights holders through full and transparent usage reporting, which means that sampling surveys will no longer be run in universities.
“The negotiations that have resulted in the settlement are a turning point in the relationship between CLNZ and UNZ,” says Paula. “We look forward to working with each university as they undertake the process of implementing these systems.”
New faces on CLNZ board
 Following a review of Copyright Licensing NZ’s governance structure, CLNZ has recently announced the appointment of two independent directors to their Board.
One is Emeritus Professor Pat Walsh (left), who was Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington from 2005 to 2014 and prior to that, Professor of Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations at Victoria. Walsh is currently chair of Agri One, a joint venture between Lincoln and Massey Universities, the New Zealand Indonesia Council and the Academic Quality Agency.
 Andrew McKenzie (left), General Manager Commercial in the Construction Group at Fletcher Building and former CFO at Auckland Council is the other appointee to the CLNZ Board. Andrew is passionate about the next generation being able to make a living from their creativity, and is a director on a number of Boards.
Retiring from the CLNZ Board are Stephen Stratford and Mark Sayes. Stephen had served five years as a director and provided sound business advice from the perspective of writers. Mark’s 15 years with the Board included four years as Chairman and many additional areas of service including an active role in the recent university negotiations.
2015 Science Book Prize calls for submissions
The Science Book Prize seeks to promote the writing and reading of popular science books in New Zealand, This award, managed and funded by the Royal Society of New Zealand, is open to books which contain significant science content and communicate scientific concepts for a general audience published in 2013 and 2014.
Submissions must be received by 5pm, Monday 2 February 2015. Finalist titles will be announced in mid-March, and the winner will be announced in May 2015 as part of the Auckland Writers Festival.
www.royalsociety.org.nz/sciencebookprize
Nominate your Great Kiwi Classic
The hunt for the Great Kiwi Classic returns in 2015 and New Zealand readers nationwide are invited to join the celebration of iconic Kiwi books by nominating their favourites. Any book written by a Kiwi writer is in the running.
To nominate your Great Kiwi Classic visit the Great Kiwi Classic Facebook page: www.facebook.com/GreatKiwiClassic, or email your suggestions to greatkiwiclassic@bookcouncil.org.nz.
Nominations close 5pm Friday 13 February. More information on the New Zealand Book Council website here.
This year’s classic title will be announced at the launch of the Auckland Writers Festival programme on Tuesday 17 March.
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