Tony Moores was a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 Book Industry Awards for his dedication to bookselling. Melanie Laville-Moore, Managing Director at Allen & Unwin, and Alison Southby, owner of Poppies Hamilton, spoke of his extraordinary career at the awards ceremony in July:
An early change from schoolteacher to bookseller during the 1980s would lead to an extraordinary career for this evening’s recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award. He’s a legend of the book trade, and for so many of us and our businesses within the wider trade, we are all the better because of his influence and our interactions with him too.
He quickly rose through the ranks of London Bookshops and by the 1980s was managing branches for the chain. His easy manner and dedication meant fast recognition as a safe pair of hands by owners Peter and David Emmanuel, and he was soon an area manager for the Wellington region. Such was the world of bookselling back then, rumour has it that his and other London Bookshop employees, including Bruce Caddy, were rewarded by the brothers for their hard work with a trip to Fiji with their families.
In a bold bid to introduce more rigour and book expertise to its operations, he was hired by PaperPlus in 1996 to lead their bookselling efforts. A move to Auckland ensued and was quickly followed by a growth in book sales for the PaperPlus Group’s newly professionalised and centralised book efforts. As a reader first and foremost and with hand-selling skills honed over years spent on the London Bookshop floors, the stores quickly came to trust and follow his judgement. If he told the Paper Plus stores that a particular title was worth their time, the stores unequivocally backed it. The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini – Paper Plus were the first to heavily stock this. Ultramarathon Man by Dean Karnazes – Paper Plus owned it with an almost 80% market share of the first edition. Just two of the many titles that enabled the group to stand out.
In the publishing community during this time, this evening’s recipient was held in the highest of esteem. He was to PaperPlus what Joan Mackenzie was to Whitcoulls. Much to the horror of his youngest son, at one point there were even posters in bus shelters emblazoned with his image and his Class A book recommendations. He was a powerhouse who was trusted and who understood the value of strong partnership to achieve solid outcomes for all.
He was instrumental in delivering sponsorship at scale for the burgeoning Kids Lit Quiz. Alongside financial and book token support, he was all-out, boots on the ground, rallying the stores and greatly assisting in the organisation of the growing number of heats being held across the motu. It was a level of input that genuinely made the difference to the world-class competition that the Kids Lit Quiz now is.
He backed his belief in the PaperPlus brand by purchasing, along with wife Margaret, the Highland Park store. And it should be noted that this was not the first time that the pair’s professional lives had crossed over. Having met during teacher training, Margaret had also spent time with London Bookshops at the Kirkcaldie & Stains branch. A formidable presence in her own right, Margaret was and still is, a tower of strength.
When researching for this citation, many contributors used similar adjectives: positive; thoughtful; kind and gentle; consensus-seeking; shrewd; optimistic, and always a lot of fun. I can attest to all these qualities during my own time working alongside as a part of the book team at PaperPlus. We made for a busy department with a deluge of tasks to tackle on the daily and always accompanied by belly-laughs a-plenty. High scruples and integrity made for his backbone – here was a book buyer from whom no amount of publisher co-op or rebate could secure an unwanted or unwarranted sale. I can neither deny nor confirm that the wheels could however be greased by his special penchant for decent cake and a sticky-bun!
All good things came to an end, and in late 2006 he left Paper Plus, crossing the line and joining HarperCollins as their Trade Sales Manager. For almost five years his bookseller expertise gave invaluable insight to publishing and strategic thinking that can still be seen in their operations today. Coupled with London Books and PaperPlus, this unique combination of experience meant that when he purchased the Poppies franchise of boutique independent bookstores in 2011, he had completed a full and glorious circle.
He brought his trademark patience and generosity to the Poppies world, signing up franchisees under an agreement that left at least one lawyer blinking in surprise at its favourable terms. And at the same time as mentoring other booksellers, he moved his own shop from Remuera to Howick, where it has become a vital part of the village. He is always willing to advise but never forces advice when it hasn’t been asked for, no matter how great the temptation must sometimes be, and nothing is ever cause for panic. Forgotten to order this month’s hottest new title? Your customers will buy something else.
His sense of duty for the greater good of the Aotearoa book ecosystem remains at the fore. Most recently he has served as a hands-on, influential board member for the Booksellers Association, and was especially pivotal in developing the game-changing BookHub. He was an early driver and lent bookseller expertise during the genesis of the Coalition for Books organisation, and he was a valuable sounding board as the Kete Books review site was relaunched. Until recently, he served on the board of the Auckland Writers Festival Trust.
Away from the world of books, he is someone that has always kept himself occupied. From renovations to a historic home and lifestyle block in the wilds of Castle Point during the 1980s and early 1990s; to renovating vintage VW campervans – the same level of dedication and detail is applied.
Retirement beckons, and there will be a new manager front-facing his Poppies Howick store. There will be more time for the tramping and van adventures, and visits with the young grandson in Australia. It will be a new back seat view of the landscape, and where books is concerned, one that has been vastly improved by his workings in it.
Congratulations Tony Moores on your so deserved recognition with this Lifetime Achievement Award.