Runner-up Best Bookshop, Best of Wellington 2023-24

STATEMENT: 15 March 2024

Kia ora,

GOOD BOOKS is closing – but it’s a decision we’re at peace with. We have loved owning GOOD BOOKS. We love our amazing team (present and past), who have made the shop what it is. We love the connections we’ve made with our customers, our reading and writing communities, and our small business neighbours in Te Aro.

But the economic environment has been very tough lately, as you’ve probably picked up on – and after a lot of discussion, we’ve decided to err on the side of caution and close under our own terms.

So, what does this mean for you, our customers?

• Our last day of trading is Friday 10 May.

• We’ll be announcing assorted good bargains on all our stock over the next few weeks, so be in quick if you want the most choice. If you have a Ticket to Read, go hard and get the most out of it!

• If you have a special order with us at the moment, we’ll be in touch.

• If you have a valid GOOD BOOKS voucher and you don’t want to spend it before 10 May, pop in or email accounts@goodbookshop.nz with the voucher code and your bank account details and we will arrange a refund. We’ll be giving you plenty of reminders before the cut-off date.

• If you have a GOOD BOOKS subscription, we will be emailing you individually with some options, including a refund for any remaining months OR a big book stack – all the books all at once plus a few extra goodies!

And there’ll be events, too, so come along!

• Thursday 18 April, 5.30pm: Join Karen McMillan as she launches her latest novel, Turbulent Threads.

• Late April/early May, to be confirmed: Our Jane’s book launch! Brown Bird, a novel for children, published by Puffin/Penguin Random House.

• Last day drinks: 4pm to 5.30pm, Friday 10 May, come and say farewell as we close the doors for the final time.

When we’re gone, please give your love to your other local indie bookshops!

Most of all, don’t worry about us. And rest assured, we’re looking after our staff, because that’s always been important to us.

Thank you for being our customers. We’ve loved getting to know you.

Ngā mihi nui,
Catherine and Jane
Directors, GOOD BOOKS

GOOD BOOKS was founded in 2020 by two writers, Jane Arthur and Catherine Robertson, because the middle of a pandemic is always the ideal time to start a new business. Jane has over 20 years of bookselling and publishing experience, and Catherine has fond memories of very briefly working at Whitcoulls when she was at university. This is why Jane is GOOD BOOKS’ manager and Catherine is not … GOOD BOOKS opened its doors in October 2020.

GOOD BOOKS is all about the joy of reading and discovering new books you’ll love. No bookshop should make you feel self-conscious about what you like to read. We have fantasy, YA, romance, memoirs, poetry, art books and Jack Reacher. We have our own books, because that’s what happens when writers set up bookshops. We have science, politics, architecture books and Poo Bum. We’re small, so we only stock the books we believe are truly good.

We have a table and chairs you’re welcome to sit at. We have an awesome bookselling team, and welcome (nay, encourage) you to bring your dogs for a visit. We have very own exclusive range of limited-edition merch. 

We take Covid safety very seriously, so as a reassurance if you're venturing out our way, know that we have great ventilation in the shop, with a CO2 monitor, a HEPA air filter machine, and all our staff wear N95 (or equivalent) masks.

If you’re looking for info about our Pay It Forward vouchers, launched in March 2023, click here.

Find us at 2/16 Jessie Street, Te Aro, Pōneke Wellington, tucked around behind Hamish McKay Art Gallery, opposite Prefab café’s back door.