'People laughed at us': Prominent publisher reflects on road to New Years honours

The creator of Pasifika Press, a company that provides books for, by and about Polynesians is among the recipients of New Zealand's 2024 New Year Honours.

Recipient Robert Holding says he was thrilled to have been made an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit for services to Pacific literature and business.

"Over the years I had a wonderful staff and they were really innovative," Holding says.

"My wife passed away two years ago and she was a key factor in the business.

"When you get to my age it's nice to think you've done something with your life and it's recognised."

Holding ran what was once the only bookshop in Sāmoa in Apia during the early 1970s, where he first published the staple book Tala O Le Vavau: The Myths, Legnds and Customs of Old Samoa.

He says it was important for him to seek out Pacific and local artists and photographers to design it.

"It's in both Sāmoan and English and sold over 20,000 copies. It's still popular."

Holding also met his late wife Sheena in Sāmoa who was the head mistress of an all girls school at the time.

"Sheena went to Samoa two years before I did. We met and we were married in Sāmoa and had a beautiful Sāmoan wedding.

"Sāmoa is a very special place for us."

In 1976 Holding and his wife established Polynesian Bookshop, now known as Pasifika Press, in Ponsonby.

A decade later they relocated to Karangahape Road. He says Pacific media was not as valued as it is today, making "incredible progress" since then.

"People laughed at us. Looking at the amazing Pacific people in the media [now and] all forms of art and creativity it's amazing.

"Look at what's happening to music it's incredible."

Despite seeing the substantial progress of acceptance over the last half century, Holding says he is worried about the future of Pacific literature.

While attending the 45th anniversary celebration of the iconic Maota Sāmoa house on Karangahape Road a lot of people voiced concern about the current government's attitude towards Māori.

"It was a call that Pacific people needed to stand firm with their Māori brethren."

The Māori King called an urgent meeting this weekend over the coalition Government's decision to scrap the use of te reo Māori from government departments.

Tongan community leader and head of the Moana Pasifika delegation Pakilau Manase Lua says Pacific peoples "should be up in arms and supporting our Māori brothers and sisters".

"If they can do this to Māori, goodbye Tonga Language week, goodbye Sāmoan Language week."

After years of contributing to the preservation and proliferation of Pacific history, culture and language, Holding sees and stands by it's importance and impact.

"One of the really nice things is I often get people send me messages of thanks for producing books because it has made an impact in their journey."