Kia ora tātou,

This August, we’re looking ahead to a bumper September with three new books hitting the shelves.

We’ve got stories of petrol heads and young lovers in brand new reo Māori short fiction from Atakohu Middleton; sadbangers and straight-up bangers from Chris Tse in his latest and lushest collection; and practical and poignant insights from Juliet A. Gerrard as she reflects on her six years as the Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister, in which she helped steer the country through some of the major emergencies of recent memory.

Read on for more on these books and their launch events, as well as news from our accomplished writers, poets and designers.

Nā mātou iti noa nei,

te whānau o AUP  

NGĀ PUKAPUKA E WHAI AKE NEI | FORTHCOMING BOOKS

Waka Aroha

He Kohinga Pakipoto

Atakohu Middleton

He pakipoto mā ngā kaipānui katoa i roto tonu i te reo Māori – a collection of short stories for all in te reo Māori.

He rangatahi ngākau whiwhita ki ngā waka tetere. He kairapuhara wahine Māori e mahitahi ana ki roto i te ao kikokiko me te ao atua. He kaihoahoa hūmārie ka tukirae atu ki tētehi manuwhiri i te rārangi harirū. Mā te tuhinga a Atakohu Middleton ka ngahau ngā tāngata matatau ki te reo tae atu ki ērā anō tāngata i runga i tō rātou ara reo Māori.

The stories span time, genres and voices – readers will find police procedurals and family dramas, fantasy stories and coming-of-age yarns. Written in accessible reo Māori aimed at wharekura students and language learners from intermediate level up, this is gripping and exciting writing for contemporary Aotearoa.

In stores 10 September.

Dance-Floor Romance

Chris Tse

Anthems to art and transformation, from past Poet Laureate, Chris Tse.

Unfolding in the strobe-lit landscape of the club, this latest collection from Tse reflects on joy, nostalgia and legacy – and what it means to make a vocation of vulnerability. Words hit the page like light on a mirrorball as he takes us from come-up to comedown, between the spotlight and the shadowy corners, penning both sadbangers and straight-up bangers that are generous, alive and shot through with the magnetic urgency of a club classic.

In stores 10 September.

Front Row Seat

How Science Can (and Can’t) Shape Public Decision-Making

Juliet A. Gerrard

With a foreword by Jacinda Ardern

Responding to the terrorist attack on a Christchurch mosque and a global pandemic, the volcanic eruption at Whakaari/White Island and the occupation of Parliament grounds, for six years Dame Juliet Gerrard stood next to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her successors to provide the insights that science might bring to decisions on issues of public importance.

For anyone interested in evidence and public policy, Front Row Seat is a readable insider account of how science can (and can’t) help us solve big public issues.

In stores 10 September.

NGĀ KAUPAPA | UPCOMING EVENTS

KAITUHI KŌRERORERO

Acclaimed Māori writers Witi Ihimaera Smiler and Eugene Bingham reunite to interview each other about their most recently published works in this free event for the Auckland Libraries Kaituhi Kōrerorero series.

Tuesday 25 August, 6.30pm

Te Paataka Koorero o Takaanini | Takaanini Library and Community Hub

30 Walters Road

BOOK LAUNCH

Join Dame Juliet A. Gerrard for the launch of her book Front Row Seat: How Science Can (and Can’t) Shape Public Decision-Making.

Thursday 10 September, 6pm

Unity Books Wellington

57 Willis Street

BOOK LAUNCH

Join Chris Tse to celebrate the publication of his fourth collection of poetry. Come for readings, music and your next Dance-Floor Romance.

‘There's a rongoā within the kupu Māori’ – Robert Sullivan receives his Poet Laureate tokotoko

At a special ceremony at the National Library in Wellington last month, Robert Sullivan (Ngāpuhi, Kai Tahu) received his tokotoko – carved by Jacob Scott (Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa) – formally inaugrating his tenure as New Zealand Poet Laureate 2025–2028.

‘We all know as poets that words are worlds’ – listen to Selina Tusitala Marsh, Commonwealth Poet Laureate, in conversation with Scottish Makar, Peter Mackay

Selina Tusitala Marsh, tokotoko in hand, has been in Scotland for the 2026 Commonwealth Games recently held in Glasgow. She’s participating in a special programme of exhibitions, talks and performances produced by the Scottish Poetry Library and the Games Festival's Watershed initiative, including a wide-ranging conversation with Scotland’s Peter Mackay, pictured here with Selina and Glasgow’s Robert Fergusson statue.

Witi Ihimaera Smiler recognised with an Arts Foundation Icon Award Whakamana Hiranga

Last week, Witi was one of four creatives inaugurated as Icons of the arts in Aotearoa – acknowledging his enormous contribution to local literature over five decades and forty published works, including Te Kaikaukau | The Swimmer: I te Ao o te Reo, published with us in May. The award is the Arts Foundation’s highest honour, bestowed to a ‘living circle’ of 20 creatives. Speaking to the meaning of the Icon award, Witi says, ‘What is our role? It is to continue to inspire mō ngā tamariki o āpōpō, mō te iwi e tatari ana i te pae – for those of the next generation who are waiting on the horizon.’

Te ihi, te wehi, te wana!  

AROTAHI | SPOTLIGHT

Six AUP titles shortlisted for the PANZ Book Design Awards

Congratulations to our exceptional designers nominated for the 2026 PANZ Book Design Awards: Alan Deare and Dave McDonald (Area Design) for their work on Atlas of the New Zealand Wars and Chris Knox: Not Given Lightly; Arch and Jane MacDonnell (Inhouse) for The Origins of an Experimental Society and Tony Fomison: Life of the Artist; Neil Pardington, and Amy Tansell and Tony Murrow of WordsAlive for Mana Moana; and Duncan Munro for He Puāwai. Tapatapahi ana!

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday 24 September.
Read more on the PANZ website.