Pearson to close NZ education business

Wednesday, 12 June 2013 Books+Publishing

Pearson has announced that it will close its educational publishing business in New Zealand by the end of August.

Pearson Australia and New Zealand CEO David Barnett said in a statement that the publisher will continue to sell its products in New Zealand via a local distributor, but did not say which distributor it will use. Pearson said that New Zealand customers and authors will be notified of the new arrangements ‘soon’.

‘Over the last few years it has become clear that our current business model is no longer appropriate,’ said Barnett. ‘This was not an easy decision to make and comes after many months of discussion as well as a two week consultation process with our people. Our focus right now continues to be on their welfare at this difficult time.’

As previously reported by Books+Publishing, Pearson announced a review of its New Zealand education operations at the end of May. The review only related to the publisher’s educational publishing business and did not affect Penguin New Zealand. A spokesperson for Pearson also confirmed at that time that the review did not relate to Pearson’s educational publishing business in Australia.

Category: Local news