The long-running Upper Hutt bookstore, Paper Plus, has shut its doors after Hill’s Retailers Limited, owned by Malcolm Desmond Hill and Jane Elizabeth Hill, was placed into liquidation on 26 February 2025.

The Hills had operated the Paper Plus franchise in The Mall for 25 years, but financial pressure and shrinking customer numbers left the company unable to recover.

Paper Plus Upper Hutt was more than just a bookstore – it also sold stationery, Lotto tickets, and provided NZ Post services. However, fewer people shopping in the mall meant sales dropped year after year.

The company eventually fell behind on:

• Rent payments, despite the landlord offering discounts

• Tax obligations to Inland Revenue

• Other debts to suppliers and banks

After professional advice, the Hills made the decision to wind up the business. A closing-down sale was held before liquidators stepped in.

Total debt confirmed so far: at least $247,000 — with the final figure likely to increase once all suppliers are counted.

Liquidators from BDO Wellington will:

• Notify creditors and staff

• Check if any assets can be recovered

• Assess creditor claims

• Distribute any available funds, starting with staff and Inland Revenue

It is unlikely that everyone owed money will be fully repaid.

The closure means job losses for local staff and leaves another empty space in The Mall. For the Upper Hutt community, it also removes a long-standing option for books, stationery, Lotto, and postal services.

The Hills’ story highlights the growing struggles for small business owners across New Zealand, with rising costs and fewer people shopping in-store putting pressure on even long-established shops.