Roger Steele on Peter Acland & Publishing
I met Peter in 1998 when I instigated the setting up of a new publishing company, Dark Horse Publishing Ltd, as an off shoot of our own Steele Roberts Publishers. The Dark Horse company published four well received books before its eight directors, of which Peter was one, decided that while it hadn’t made a loss, any profit divided by eight was not really worth the effort.
Peter was closely and enthusiastically involved in all the books Dark Horse produced: the first, a witty, wise and irreverent guide to life for young men; the second, a comprehensive look at the issues around genetic engineering; the third and fourth to do with New Zealand’s relationship with Australia and whether we should form closer political ties with that country.
By the time Dark Horse was put out to pasture, Peter had become a good friend and stayed on as a valued manuscript assessor, editorial assistant and proofreader, and general kaumatua of Steele Roberts. We valued his involvement, support and friendship hugely.
One of Peter’s greatest publishing achievements was to work closely with me on Nordy: A political biography of Arnold Nordmeyer. Together we transformed a lumpy manuscript into a polished product. Peter then came with the author and me to launch the book at Kurow, where Nordmeyer had instigated New Zealand’s social security system. With snow swirling outside around Waitaki dam, Prime Minister Helen Clark launched the book. Peter enjoyed himself hugely, taking considerable pleasure in helping right a political wrong — Nordmeyer had been unjustly maligned and the book helped restore his reputation as one of the most ethical and effective politicians of the 20th century.
Politics was in Peter’s blood. Just who he voted for I never knew, but he didn’t want people to assume he was a right-winger because he had once worked for Prime Minister Robert Muldoon. He was interested in politics of several shades. He and I planned to go to Washington, to see the Lincoln Memorial and the White House, but he died before that dream could happen.
After Nordy, he hoped to work on other political books we were planning, across the political spectrum: from former National minister Hugh Templeton, we were liaising about several of his literary efforts, to a biography we have commissioned of Labour Party founder Harry Holland.
Peter had many publishing schemes and dreams. He did extensive work for and with me over a year or more, fact-checking and researching for a new history of Wellington, in the form of a total revision and updating of the classic The Streets of My City. He had become a loyal Wellingtonian, and was chuffed to he be been honoured with the affectionate sobriquet ‘the Mayor of Kelburn’.
Several times Peter expressed his frustration over the time it was taking to produce the new Wellington book, and a few months before his fatal illness he offered to invest money in it to speed production.
Family history was another passion of Peter’s, and he yearned to get back to Britain to continue his research into the Acland family history that fired him so much. I have no doubt he would have been happy, when he had the means, to support research and publication of other people’s family histories, especially if they impacted on New Zealand’s history in the way that his Acland ancestors did.
Perhaps stemming from his Acland antecedents’ occupation, he and I also undertook extensive preparatory work on a comprehensive book about the sheep farming industry.
In the Dark Horse Publishing era Peter put a lot of effort into producing a New Zealand version of an idea his brother Alastair had shown him: a small ‘sampler’ of NZ writers’ short stories, to be placed gratis in tourist accommodation to introduce visitors to our literature. We spent many hours planning and developing a New Zealand version of this project, discussing formats, suitable authors and speculating on possible sponsors. Without financial backing, it did not happen.
At a young age Peter became fascinated with journalism, politics, books and sport, all areas in which his legacy can enable him to have a continuing involvement.
Peter’s life was cut short at just 66 when he had so much to live for and look forward to, and when at last he had the means to achieve so many of his dreams. I look forward to the Peter M Acland Foundation furthering Peter's support of book publishing in New Zealand.
Roger Steele
8/8/17
Peter was closely and enthusiastically involved in all the books Dark Horse produced: the first, a witty, wise and irreverent guide to life for young men; the second, a comprehensive look at the issues around genetic engineering; the third and fourth to do with New Zealand’s relationship with Australia and whether we should form closer political ties with that country.
By the time Dark Horse was put out to pasture, Peter had become a good friend and stayed on as a valued manuscript assessor, editorial assistant and proofreader, and general kaumatua of Steele Roberts. We valued his involvement, support and friendship hugely.
One of Peter’s greatest publishing achievements was to work closely with me on Nordy: A political biography of Arnold Nordmeyer. Together we transformed a lumpy manuscript into a polished product. Peter then came with the author and me to launch the book at Kurow, where Nordmeyer had instigated New Zealand’s social security system. With snow swirling outside around Waitaki dam, Prime Minister Helen Clark launched the book. Peter enjoyed himself hugely, taking considerable pleasure in helping right a political wrong — Nordmeyer had been unjustly maligned and the book helped restore his reputation as one of the most ethical and effective politicians of the 20th century.
Politics was in Peter’s blood. Just who he voted for I never knew, but he didn’t want people to assume he was a right-winger because he had once worked for Prime Minister Robert Muldoon. He was interested in politics of several shades. He and I planned to go to Washington, to see the Lincoln Memorial and the White House, but he died before that dream could happen.
After Nordy, he hoped to work on other political books we were planning, across the political spectrum: from former National minister Hugh Templeton, we were liaising about several of his literary efforts, to a biography we have commissioned of Labour Party founder Harry Holland.
Peter had many publishing schemes and dreams. He did extensive work for and with me over a year or more, fact-checking and researching for a new history of Wellington, in the form of a total revision and updating of the classic The Streets of My City. He had become a loyal Wellingtonian, and was chuffed to he be been honoured with the affectionate sobriquet ‘the Mayor of Kelburn’.
Several times Peter expressed his frustration over the time it was taking to produce the new Wellington book, and a few months before his fatal illness he offered to invest money in it to speed production.
Family history was another passion of Peter’s, and he yearned to get back to Britain to continue his research into the Acland family history that fired him so much. I have no doubt he would have been happy, when he had the means, to support research and publication of other people’s family histories, especially if they impacted on New Zealand’s history in the way that his Acland ancestors did.
Perhaps stemming from his Acland antecedents’ occupation, he and I also undertook extensive preparatory work on a comprehensive book about the sheep farming industry.
In the Dark Horse Publishing era Peter put a lot of effort into producing a New Zealand version of an idea his brother Alastair had shown him: a small ‘sampler’ of NZ writers’ short stories, to be placed gratis in tourist accommodation to introduce visitors to our literature. We spent many hours planning and developing a New Zealand version of this project, discussing formats, suitable authors and speculating on possible sponsors. Without financial backing, it did not happen.
At a young age Peter became fascinated with journalism, politics, books and sport, all areas in which his legacy can enable him to have a continuing involvement.
Peter’s life was cut short at just 66 when he had so much to live for and look forward to, and when at last he had the means to achieve so many of his dreams. I look forward to the Peter M Acland Foundation furthering Peter's support of book publishing in New Zealand.
Roger Steele
8/8/17