About us, our vision and our kaupapa
About us
Bateman Books is the trading name of David Bateman Ltd, an award-winning independent Aotearoa New Zealand Publisher and distributor of both local and internationally published books.
Founded in 1981 by David and Janet Bateman, the company is now New Zealand’s largest independently owned publisher and distributor, operating out of an office and warehouse facility in Hobsonville, Auckland.
Bateman publishes a wide range of fiction and non-fiction, and specialises in richly illustrated books with high production values. Between 40 and 50 new titles are issued each year, with around 350 titles kept in print.
We operate a nationwide sales and distribution service and, in addition to our publishing, also represent a number of New Zealand publishers and self-publishers as well as publishers from the USA, UK and Australia. Our range of distributed titles consists largely of quality non-fiction covering every subject from art to travel. In the last few years, we have added adult and children’s fiction lists to our repertoire, many titles of which have gone on to become bestsellers and win awards.
Our vision
At Bateman we believe it is our purpose to work alongside talented authors with stories to share by curating, publishing and distributing their stories to the readers of Aotearoa and the world. We strive to publish a variety of books for all ages that will elevate, educate and entertain readers of all interests and all backgrounds. We are committed to encouraging reading for those whose natural tendency might not be to reach for a book, in whatever way we can.
Our kaupapa
At Bateman, we are committed to manaakitanga (hospitality, respect, generosity and care), and to celebrating and actively promoting the diversity and inclusivity of Aotearoa New Zealand so that all voices can be heard. For us, first and foremost, that means respecting Māori as tangata whenua (the original inhabitants of this land); it also means respecting the culture of Pacific peoples and the many other cultures residing in Aotearoa. It means always being on the lookout for new ways of embracing te ao Māori (the Māori world) in our business practice, in the people we do business with, and in the kinds of books we publish. At Bateman, we pledge to always keep our minds open to cultural learning.
Bateman’s role as publishing kaitiaki (guardians, preservers and protectors) involves facilitating the telling, recording and distribution of stories. It is our privilege to publish books that honour our nation’s past; books that respond to the needs and interests of people today; and books that provide learning and entertainment for future generations. This is not a responsibility we hold lightly. We recognise our role as partners in pukapuka (book) creation, helping deliver our nation’s stories. We recognise the need for a diversity of stories to be shared, and for the tellers of those stories to maintain their story sovereignty.