For more than 90 years, Caxton has been part of New Zealand's printing industry, combining a proud heritage with a commitment to quality, innovation and exceptional service.
Originally named the Canterbury College Caxton Club working out of the basement at the Canterbury College was local poet Denis Glover, John Drew and Leo Bensemann. The Caxton Press quickly became known for its encouragement of contemporary New Zealand authors and artists. Now, 90 years on, Caxton’s aspiration to design and print everything from books to signs, print collateral and packaging to the highest standards, have continued, under Bruce Bascand, since 1978 and current managing director, Bridget Batchelor, since 2016. Thank you to all of our dedicated staff and suppliers and our wonderful and loyal clients, we owe this incredible achievement to you!
Our story began in the early 1930s as the Canterbury College Caxton Club, founded by an inspiring group of visionaries including renowned poet Denis Glover, alongside John Drew and Leo Bensemann. Operating from the basement of Canterbury College, the club became recognised for producing beautifully crafted publications while supporting emerging New Zealand writers, artists and designers.
As demand grew, the Canterbury College Caxton Club evolved into The Caxton Press, earning an international reputation for fine printing, publishing and typography. Over time, the business expanded beyond publishing to become the commercial printing company now known as Caxton, while continuing the tradition of quality craftsmanship established by its founders.
In 1978, Bruce Bascand purchased The Caxton Press and led the business through decades of growth, investing in new technology, expanding our capabilities and establishing Caxton as one of New Zealand's leading commercial printing companies.
The Christchurch earthquakes marked one of the most challenging periods in Caxton's history. Our heritage Victoria Street premises were significantly damaged, yet our dedicated team continued operating from the remaining building, ensuring our clients experienced as little disruption as possible. The resilience of our people, the loyalty of our clients and the support of our suppliers enabled us to emerge stronger than ever.
In 2014, Caxton relocated to its purpose-built premises in Wigram, creating a modern production facility designed to support greater efficiency, collaboration and continued investment in leading print technology.
In 2016, Managing Director Bridget Batchelor took over the day to day leadership of the business, continuing Caxton's commitment to innovation, exceptional customer service and long term client partnerships while investing in our people, technology and sustainable production practices.
Throughout our history, we have been privileged to build lasting relationships with our clients, many of whom have trusted Caxton for decades. These enduring partnerships are a testament to the quality, reliability and service that continue to define our business today.
Today, although our equipment and technology have evolved dramatically since our beginnings, the values established more than 90 years ago remain unchanged. We continue to believe in quality craftsmanship, trusted relationships, continuous improvement and helping our clients bring their ideas to life through exceptional print.
As we look to the future, we remain committed to investing in our people, technology and sustainable practices while continuing the tradition of quality that has defined Caxton for more than nine decades.
