Established in the early 1970s as Victoria University Press of Wellington, and now called Te Herenga Waka University Press (THWUP), it has published almost one thousand books to date. These volumes line the walls of their office on Kelburn Parade, reflecting the huge part they play in New Zealand's vibrant literary scene and important cultural history.
University presses are often associated with scholarly publishing and THWUP has a proud legacy in this area, publishing vital work in a range of subjects including history, law and public policy, politics, te reo Māori, Pacific studies, art, and architecture.
Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Averil Coxhead says, THWUP also has an outstanding reputation for literary publishing across fiction, poetry, essays and memoirs.
“THWUP's writers and books receive high levels of media attention and are strongly represented in awards and festival programmes across the country.”
At present, THWUP can boast being publisher of both New Zealand’s biggest selling book of the moment, The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey, and the newly crowned winner of the country's top fiction prize, Delirious by Damien Wilkins.
In fact, Damien, who was last week named winner of the $65,000 Jann Medlicott Acorn prize for fiction at the 2025 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards for his novel, is the Director of the University’s International Institute of Modern Letters.
THWUP’s fiction list features many more of Aotearoa's foremost writers, including Eleanor Catton, Rebecca K Reilly, Elizabeth Knox, Pip Adam, Barbara Anderson, Carl Shuker and Keri Hulme. The poetry list is Aotearoa's strongest and most vibrant, featuring Tusiata Avia, Tayi Tibble, essa may ranapiri, Fleur Adcock, Vincent O'Sullivan, and Bill Manhire. Key memoirs and essay collections published by the Press include those by Rose Lu, Shayne Carter, Ashleigh Young, Talia Marshall, and Tina Makereti.
This literary output is overseen by a team of five—publishing an average of 32 books per year.
THWUP’s core team features Publisher Fergus Barrowman (at the helm since 1985), managing editor Ashleigh Young, editor Kyleigh Hodgson, editor (Māori) Jasmine Sargent, and publicist Caoimhe McKeogh.
The publisher’s commitment to literary excellence is reflected in its authors' achievements. Only two New Zealand authors have ever won the prestigious Man Booker Prize, and both authors are published by THWUP.
“This extraordinary accomplishment speaks volumes about their ability to identify, attract, and nurture exceptional literary talent,” says Professor Coxhead.
THWUP authors are also regular winners at the Ockhams, Aotearoa's biggest literary prizes.
In addition to Damien, authors published by THWUP won two further awards at the Ockhams this year, with Poorhara by Michelle Rahurahu (Ngāti Rahurahu, Ngāti Tahu‒Ngāti Whaoa) taking home the Hubert Church Prize for Best First Book of Fiction, and Una Cruickshank taking home the E.H. McCormick Prize for Best First Book of General Non-fiction for The Chthonic Cycle.
Both writers are alumnae of the IIML Master of Arts in Creative Writing, while their respective winning books are versions of their Master’s theses.
Professor Coxhead says THWUP serves as a cultural bridge between the city’s vibrant creative community and the book lovers of Aotearoa.
“Many students who come to Wellington to study English and Creative Writing are attracted by the great reputation of THWUP and its books. The 2025 Ockham Awards are an exciting reminder of the talents of our university community and how THWUP connects writers to readers. The opportunity to be part of a community that includes its celebrated authors is a powerful draw for aspiring writers and literary scholars.”
THWUP publisher, Fergus Barrowman, says another drawcard is the sheer range of work it encourages and promotes.
“As well as publishing many of Aotearoa's leading and bestselling writers, we are especially open to new and diverse writers, and to experimental and genre-bending writing, making it not just a keeper of literary tradition but an incubator for the future of New Zealand literature.”
Te Herenga Waka University Press is a small team making an outsized impact on our national literary landscape while bringing prestige and creative energy to our campus community.