Unity Books Wellington

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Unity Books Wellington Just a bunch of people who love books. Est. ages ago, Wellington, NZ Unity Books, always talkative anyway, also began to party. This was our foundation.
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When Alan Preston kicked off Unity Books in 1967, the shop was tiny and cerebral and only whimsically-commercial, a wedge within the OUP showrooms. Expanding 5 years later into the 2nd of 4 eventual locations on Willis Street, Alan started the pattern of hiring hugely talented & charismatic bookselling staff (including many writers and musicians). And to augment the exciting bursts of local publishing (and the non-stodgy titles from antipodean distributors) Unity Books began to direct import stock - books that nobody else had. So the shop stood out as something vigorous and radical, even though, as Nigel Cox said in his eulogy for Alan in 2004, Alan still wore his "trouser-coloured-trousers". And so, due to the reliability of two kinds of daily traffic - the extraordinary mix of people, and the fabulously 'forward' selection of books - Unity Books became two exciting & reliable oases from the annoying sands of the mediocre. And 42 years later this is always our intention. We lean on our good past but we look outwards towards the things that matter - the books, the people and the street.

20/06/2026
We're saddened to hear the passing of matua Sir Hirini Moko Mead, an immense figure in Aotearoa šŸ’” Thank you for your dec...
29/05/2026

We're saddened to hear the passing of matua Sir Hirini Moko Mead, an immense figure in Aotearoa šŸ’” Thank you for your decades of advocacy, sharing of knowledge and mahi for both tangata whenua and tangata tiriti. Go well, matua Mead.
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You might have noticed some action and a bit of noise coming from the back of the shop in recent weeks! Nowā€™s the time f...
27/05/2026

You might have noticed some action and a bit of noise coming from the back of the shop in recent weeks! Nowā€™s the time for us to reveal the exciting news that we are expanding the shop ā€” watch this space for our brand new kids section ā€” as well as expansions to some of our favourite sections. Stay tuned!

22/05/2026

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Congratulations to the International winner YƔng Shuāng-Zi and Lin King!
20/05/2026

Congratulations to the International winner YƔng Shuāng-Zi and Lin King!

19/05/2026

Just before her event with tonight, stopped by to sign some limited copies of Katabasis, The Poppy War and The Poppy War box sets. Only available in store at Unity Wellington šŸ„°

Te Rā hitting just right on our new releases shelves, beautifully illuminating Witi Ihimaera Smiler's new book Te Kaikau...
14/05/2026

Te Rā hitting just right on our new releases shelves, beautifully illuminating Witi Ihimaera Smiler's new book Te Kaikaukau | The Swimmer.

- Novelist, memoirist and playwright Witi Ihimaera ā€“ author ofĀ Pounamu, PounamuĀ andĀ The Whale RiderĀ ā€“ decided, at the age of eighty, to dive back into the water and spend a year full time at Te Wānanga Takiura, immersing himself in his own language, in te reo Māori.

This book tells the story of this kaikaukau, this swimmer, and his year i te ao o te reo ā€“ of sinking and floating; of loss and shame, connection and wairua; of fathers and teachers, kuia and friends -

We have a upcoming lunchtime time author talk with wonderful Hana Buchanan all about her new book Kupu Whenua.Join us an...
12/05/2026

We have a upcoming lunchtime time author talk with wonderful Hana Buchanan all about her new book Kupu Whenua.
Join us and Hana on Friday 15th at 12.30pm in store.

Address

57 Willis Street
Wellington
6011

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 7pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+6444994245

Website

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