Mr Robert Holding, of Auckland, ONZM for services to Pacific literature and business
Robert Holding has contributed to the promotion and publication of Pacific literature through his Pasifika Bookshop store and publishing company Pasifika Press. He has coordinated the expertise of Pacific writers, academics and artists to publish more than twenty original works. His first book, ‘Tala O Le Vavau: The Myths, Legends and Customs of Old Samoa’, sold more than 20,000 copies. The most significant project has been the English and Samoan translation of Kramer: ‘The Samoa Islands – Volumes 1 and 2’. He has assisted in the establishment of bookshops in Samoa, American Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga and Niue, and assisted with the University of South Pacific regional training workshops for writers, publishers and booksellers. Mr Holding has developed joint publishing and distribution agreements to continue the publication of Pacific books.