Publications

We’ve been telling stories since forever – it’s part of being human. Today, we bring those stories to life through carefully crafted publications that connect, inform, and inspire.

Navigating a complex system, made simple.

The United Nations & African Union Handbooks are go-to guides for anyone working with or within the United Nations, and the African Union, it helps people make sense of two pretty massive global systems. Since 1961, New Zealand has shown its commitment to international cooperation by producing these essential publications.

For the past seven years, PORTGroup have been proud to design, translate, edit, index and publish both the UN Handbook and its companion, the African Union Handbook. It’s a big gig, but one we’ve honed into a fine art.
Brand Strategy
Brand Identity
Campaign Creation
Direct Marketing
Illustration
Copywriting
Translation
Digital Design
Storyboarding
Motion Graphics
Video & Film
Visual Identity
Publication
Printed Collateral
Print Management
Livery Design
Merchandise
Media Planning & Buying
Installation
Web Development

Designing for clarity

With thousands of moving parts, the key to this project is structure. Our goal? Make it easy to use, whether someone’s flipping through a print copy in New York or skimming the app version in Africa.

Smart Indexing & Navigation: We built a streamlined system, clear headings, logical sections, and intuitive cross-referencing, so users can find what they need fast.

Responsive Layouts: Whether you’re using the book on desktop or mobile, we’ve made sure the design holds up across formats. Clean, consistent, and user-friendly.

The craft behind the content

From first draft to final print, every word and detail is checked, double-checked, and crafted with care:

Translation: English and French for the African Union readership.

Developmental Editing: Ensuring the overall structure flows and the content holds together logically.

Copy editing: Tightening up the language, fixing style inconsistencies, and making sure it’s all crystal clear.

Indexing: For accurate and easy access to information.

Proofreading: The final polish. No rogue commas or stray spelling slips here.

We also manage professional translation through our trusted partners, slotted seamlessly into the publishing schedule, and run systematic indexing to help readers connect ideas and topics efficiently.

From briefing to global delivery

It’s not just what’s on the page, it’s how it gets out into the world. Through our Streamtime project management system, we keep a close eye on timelines, responsibilities, and workflow. We also manage print production and international logistics, negotiating on quality and cost to deliver a premium result that’s also practical.

“Kia ora team, we have finished reviewing the proof and it looks great! Huge thanks to PORTGroup for your amazing work on this important and globally appreciated handbook. We are so grateful for your expertise and the value that you add to this incredibly detailed process.” -- We’ll take that.

This project is one of those quiet powerhouses, global in reach, detailed in delivery, and rewarding in the best kind of way. And for us, it’s a privilege to be part of the conversation.