Yesterday, the Sunday Star Times ran an optimistic piece saying, “2004 should be the year for our quarter-of-a-billion-dollar publishing industry.”

Written by Lesley Springall, it quotes Random House supremo Michael Moynahan (pictured) at length. He believes that:

"Our best writers are among the best in the world. And we now have a real chance to be part of the creative explosion in New Zealand and by publishing and pushing the best of the best we can clearly demonstrate that."

Former PR consultant Springall notes that

Given our small population, the key to growing the industry and boosting returns to authors is widening the markets for New Zealand books at home and overseas.

Though we are considered to be a nation of booklovers - a government survey in July found 44% of adults bought at least one book in the four weeks before the survey - that doesn't necessarily translate to Kiwis buying books by Kiwis - what Moynahan calls "truly participating in the celebration of New Zealand society".

The Ministry for Culture and Heritage has commissioned a survey to evaluate the publishing industry's size, exports and export potential. The survey will be released in 2004, and should make for interesting reading.