Commissioned & Custom Publishing

Some projects call for a different approach to publishing.

We work with organisations, trusts, clubs, businesses, and families who want to create something lasting: a centenary history, an anniversary publication, a family record, or an institutional legacy. These are books built to endure, and we treat them that way.

We're collaborative, careful, and experienced. Our job is to take your material, however complex or personal, and shape it into a book you'll be proud of for decades.

A collection of colorful books on a wooden shelf, with titles about history and personal stories.

How the Process Works

Every commissioned project is different, which is why we don't have a standard package. Here's a guide to how we work, the kinds of projects we take on, and what to expect from start to finish.

Get In Touch

  • A commissioned book is one we produce on your behalf, to a brief we develop together. Rather than publishing for the open market, we're working toward a specific purpose: marking a milestone, recording a history, or creating something permanent for the people who matter to your organisation or family.

    You retain full oversight of the content and how it's distributed. We manage everything else, from planning through to delivery.

  • Our commissioned work spans a wide range of sectors and scales. We've produced centenary and anniversary publications, organisational and corporate histories, industry records, club and community books, and family legacy projects — from modest personal memoirs to large institutional volumes.

    Every project is scoped individually. The approach is always shaped by your material, your audience, and what the book is actually for.

  • We start by listening. Once we understand your objectives, your timeline, and what you're working with, we develop a publishing plan that's specific to your project.

    Depending on scope, our involvement may include copy-editing and proofreading, design and typesetting, image handling, printing, print management, and delivery. We give you a clear proposal, honest costings, and a realistic schedule — and we see it through.

    You'll work directly with our publishing team throughout. No account managers, no handoffs.

  • We have extensive experience producing high-quality books, hardback and paperback, built for longevity rather than the short end of a print run. Production specifications are developed for each project and may include premium papers, specialist binding, and finishes that suit the brief and the budget.

    Printing is managed through trusted suppliers, chosen for quality and reliability, not just cost.

  • Many of our commissioned books are tied to a fixed date: a centenary, a launch, an event that can't move. We're experienced in planning to hard deadlines and will be straightforward with you early if a timeline isn't achievable with the material available.

    We factor in everything: editorial complexity, approval rounds, design, printing, and freight. The earlier you come to us, the more room we have to do the work properly.

  • You don't need a fully formed brief to get in touch. A general sense of what you'd like to create and when is enough to start a useful conversation.

    To get in touch about a commissioned project, use our contact form here.

Book cover titled "Forged in Fire: The Story of Destiny Bay Wines" by Michael F. Spratt. The cover features an image of lava flowing over volcanic rocks, with orange and red glowing lava contrasted against dark rocks. Subtitle reads "An Impossible Pl
A book cover titled "Women, Home & Country: 100 Years of the New Zealand Federation of Women's Institutes." The cover features a statue of a woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat, with a branch of yellow flowers and green leaves above her. The background
A sequence of three images showing a coastal scene with a sailing club, featuring small sailboats on the beach and water, and buildings overlooking the bay, with the sky changing from bright to darker tones.
Book cover titled "Barker's of Geraldine: 50 Years Preserved" with illustrations of various fruits and flowers surrounding a purple circle displaying the title, and text indicating it is about a family farm's history.
A boxed set of three booklets about Toyota in New Zealand, titled "Making the Toyota Way Our Own" by Alistair Davis, on a light-colored surface.
A vertically stacked burger with multiple layers of patties, cheese, vegetables, and a bun, on a wooden surface.
Photo of a staircase in a building with brick walls, a handrail on the left, and pipes on the right. A door labeled 'The Atrium Club' is partially visible on the right. Superimposed text reads 'Stories Men Tell: New Zealand Men Talk About Their Lives
A bottle of Pinot Noir wine and two glasses of red wine placed on a wine barrel table in a vineyard. There is a plate of sliced meat, cherry tomatoes, and greens on the table. The background shows green vineyard rows and a partly cloudy sky. The text
Cover of a book titled "The Grand Electrification of the South" by Gay Buckingham, with a background photo of electric power infrastructure in a rural landscape.
Book cover titled 'A History of the Auckland Indian Sports Club 1936-2021' with a green background, featuring a traditional Indian motif and a stylized wheel design.
Book cover titled "A Man's Life" by Hubert Henderson, featuring a watercolor illustration of a man sitting in a chair, reading a book, with glasses, a pipe, beige pants, a brown jacket, and brown shoes.
Book cover titled 'Olive Oil the New Zealand way' by David Walsh, showing an aerial view of lush green olive orchards with a distant coastline under a blue sky.
Book cover titled 'Sainsbury Logan & Williams Lawyers Since 1875' by Stuart Webster, featuring a black background with a gold clock face design and Roman numerals.
A modern glass building with text on it celebrating 150 years of New Zealand's Stock Exchange, with stock market data displayed at the bottom.
Crowd of protesters holding signs, including one that says "BACK THE TEACHERS" and another that says "INVEST IN TEACHERS, INVEST IN AOTEAROA". Many people are smiling and marching in a demonstration.
Book cover titled "Olive Oil the New Zealand way" with a landscape of olive trees, fields, and a body of water in the background.
Close-up of a book cover titled 'Workplace Bullying: A costly business phenomenon' with the authors' names Andrea Needham and editors listed below.
Cover of a book titled "The History & Arts of the Dominatrix" by Anne O Nomis, featuring a purple cover with gold decorative borders and a red band indicating first edition
Close-up of a historical map with handwritten text. The map features the outline of New Zealand and surrounding islands. Overlaying the map are stylized words 'Edward Clisby' in bold black and 'Lashar' in large, elegant cursive maroon. There is also
Cover of a medical book titled "Minor Surgery" with an illustration of a hand performing minor surgery on a patient.
Cover of the Pony Club Manual 1, 2019 revised edition, with pictures of children riding horses, taking lessons, and participating in equestrian activities.