Otago University Press

13/08/2026

Happy publication day to Offshore Service and Other Stories by Craig Cliff ✈️💼

In Offshore Service and Other Stories, award-winning author Craig Cliff explores the emotional, economic, cultural and climatic forces that drive our decisions.

Farmers search for purpose on holiday in Fiji. A well-heeled Dunedin suburb receives an influx of refugees. Tensions flare at an Anzac Day barbecue in Perth. Playing out in recognisable settings these stories follow characters who find themselves beyond familiar shores, struggling to reconcile the passage of time, thwarted aspirations and unexpected responsibilities. What unfolds is a wild yet thoroughly readable collection of stories told with humour, heart and hopefulness.

Out now 🧡
Find in your local bookstore
Or online at https://oup.nz/library/offshore-service/

Join us for the launch next week, on Wednesday 19th at Dunedin City Library - details on the last slide.

07/08/2026

The reviews are coming in for Out of the Box! 📚

We’ve loved seeing such a warm response to Trish Harris’s Out of the Box: 25 Deaf and disabled artists, activists and adventurers from Aotearoa New Zealand.

Alongside some wonderful reviews, Trish has been talking with RNZ Nine to Noon, The Sapling, Arts Access Aotearoa and The DList* about the people and history behind the book, representation, and why these stories matter.

Catch up on all the reviews, interviews and features here:
https://oup.nz/out-of-the-box/

06/08/2026

Trish Harris joined Olivia and Soph at The D List NZ Crip Café to kōrero about Out of the Box 😃

Watch or read the full interview below.

Featuring guest Trish Harris, author of Out of the Box, we discuss who we look up to in the disabled communities and what makes them iconic.

06/08/2026

Craig Cliff, OUP, Dunedin City Library and Paper Plus Dunedin warmly invite you to the book launch of Offshore Service and Other Stories by Craig Cliff.

Arrive at 5:30pm for a 6pm start
Wednesday 19th August
Dunningham Suite, Level 4, Dunedin City Library, 230 Moray Place,
Ōtepoti | Dunedin

Please RSVP to: [email protected] by Friday 14th.

From award-winning author Craig Cliff, Offshore Service explores the emotional, economic, cultural and climatic forces that drive our where-to-live decisions. Farmers search for purpose on holiday in Fiji. A well-heeled Dunedin suburb receives an influx of refugees. Tensions flare at an Anzac Day barbecue in Perth. Playing out in recognisable settings these stories follow characters who find themselves beyond familiar shores, struggling to reconcile the passage of time, thwarted aspirations and unexpected responsibilities. What unfolds is a wild yet thoroughly readable collection of stories told with humour, heart and hopefulness.

"Wow. In Offshore Service, Craig Cliff has written some of the best short stories I have read in a while" - Lloyd Jones

06/08/2026

On Saturday 18 July we were delighted to celebrate the launch of Out of the Box by Trish Harris at Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui | Wellington Central Library.

The afternoon featured beautiful music from Fonotī Pati Umaga, wonderful dance performances by Rodney Bell and Duncan Armstrong, and a powerful poetry reading by Helen Vivienne Fletcher of Crip the Lit. Interpreted throughout in New Zealand Sign Language, it was a fantastic celebration of the people whose stories fill the pages of Out of the Box.

As publisher Dr Sue Wootton observed, 'It takes a village to create a book.' That spirit was evident throughout the afternoon, with a large crowd of friends, contributors, whānau and supporters gathering to celebrate the launch.

Our sincere thanks to Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui | Wellington Central Library for hosting the launch, to Unity Books Wellington for managing book sales, and to everyone who joined us for this special occasion.

Read more about Out of the Box on our website: https://oup.nz/library/out-of-the-box/

📷 Take a look through some highlights from the afternoon below.

06/08/2026

We are saddened by the recent death of author and historian Emeritus Professor Erik Olssen. Erik’s research over many years into the social fabric of Aotearoa New Zealand has made an immense contribution to New Zealanders’ knowledge of ourselves, and his work will continue to be foundational for all who follow. He will be sadly missed by many. We extend our sincere condolences to Annabel and whānau.

OUP has had the privilege of publishing three of Erik's books: 'Class and Occupation', co-authored with Maureen Hickey (2005); 'An Accidental Utopia?', co-authored with Clyde Griffen and Frank Jones (2009); and 'Working Lives c.1900' (2014).

An Accidental Utopia? investigates a more egalitarian past at a time when New Zealand ranked fourth in the developed world for social inequality.

21/07/2026

Bee Trudgeon of The Sapling talks with Trish Harris about the inspiration behind and production of 'Out of the Box'.

'When we see ourselves represented, it gives us permission to be more of who we really are.'

Trish Harris has just launched OUT OF THE BOX, which shares the stories of 25 Deaf and disabled New Zealanders. She spoke with Bee Trudgeon about what she hopes the book might mean to young people.

https://www.thesapling.co.nz/who-we-really-are-an-interview-with-trish-harris/
Trish Harris Otago University Press

17/07/2026

Trish Harris talks with Kathryn Ryan on Nine to Noon about 'Out of the Box', the people and history behind the stories, and why these voices matter.

Her latest book, Out of the Box, Trish Harris shines a light on 25 deaf and disabled artists, activists and adventurers.

13/07/2026

Happy publication day to Out of the Box by Trish Harris 💛

In 'Out of the Box', an illustrated book for readers aged 12+, author Trish Harris shares the stories of 25 Deaf and disabled New Zealanders – artists, activists and adventurers – who have broken open the box and claimed their space.

The second half of the book provides a detailed timeline of significant Deaf and disability milestones in Aotearoa New Zealand, from the 1840s to the present day.

The short, engaging stories in 'Out of the Box' celebrate both big achievements and everyday life. It shows that many of the mountains disabled people face are created by society – and that those mountains can be moved.

Out now.

Find more details at https://oup.nz/library/out-of-the-box/
Find in a local bookstore here: https://tinyurl.com/bdhc7tna

Out of the Box will be launching this Saturday at Te Matapihi in Wellington. Join us for an afternoon celebrating Deaf and disability pride, featuring dance by Rodney Bell, music by Fonotī Pati Umaga and poetry by Crip the Lit. For more details, including accessibility information please email [email protected], or check the event page. https://www.facebook.com/events/2324054988335686