Book celebrates forty years of Trade Aid Wellington

From the obscure location in a resistance bookshop, to campaigning
against child slavery in the 90s and leading the way to a Fair Trade
city in the 2000s, the Trade Aid Wellington shop turned forty last year.

To celebrate this milestone a book “Celebrating 40 years of
Trade Aid in Wellington” has been published to celebrate the shop’s
development and provide a record of the many Wellingtonians who have
been involved over the years.

“This book shows how Trade Aid in Wellington is more than just a shop
on Victoria Street opposite the library – it has become a part of the
Wellington community” says local creative and book designer Paul
Dodge. Dodge together with a team of volunteers has created this book
full of anecdotes, key dates in the shop’s history and matched it with
stunning visuals to create this vibrant read.

“This was a movement that was well ahead of its time and brought fair
trade into the mainstream… All the while, championing people over
profit. It’s really a book that celebrates the people who made it all
happen.” says Dodge.

A longer comprehensive history has also been written by local Margaret
Connor, which includes interviews with founders and other champions
and is available to view at thecommunityarchive.org.nz “It was about
having a written record while many people who had been involved
through the years were locatable” says Margaret. “The process filled
me with admiration for the commitment and passion shown by the people
for the philosophy underpinning the movement – balancing ideals and
business - and who have kept the shop afloat and growing over the
years”

It is a story of how the champions of the shop and their commitment to
the philosophy of the movement got it off the ground, nurtured it with
hours and hours of volunteer labour and turned it into the well known
destination and retail experience it is today.

On August 13th a book launch to celebrate this publication will be
held at the Trade Aid Wellington Store at 86-96 Victoria St from 6pm.
RSVP to wellington@tradeaid.org.nz

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