The Council of Australasian University Librarians, known as CAUL, has finalised a three-year read and publish agreement with Wiley that takes effect from 1 January 2026. This arrangement covers researchers at participating universities across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, removing article processing charges for eligible open access publications in Wiley journals while maintaining broad read access to subscription content.
Background to the Agreement
CAUL represents university libraries in both countries and negotiates on behalf of the sector in collaboration with Universities Australia and Universities New Zealand – Te Pōkai Tara. The new Wiley deal builds on previous read and publish arrangements and forms part of a wider push toward sustainable open access models. Participating New Zealand institutions include Auckland University of Technology, Massey University, the University of Auckland, the University of Canterbury, Victoria University of Wellington and several others listed on the official CAUL guide.
Under the terms, corresponding authors affiliated with these institutions at the time of acceptance can publish open access in most hybrid and gold open access Wiley journals without paying individual article processing charges. The agreement covers articles accepted from 1 January 2026 onward and includes both hybrid subscription journals and fully open access titles, subject to an overall cap on gold open access articles that increases modestly each year.
Key Features for New Zealand Researchers
The agreement delivers uncapped hybrid publishing alongside a capped but growing allocation for gold open access journals. Researchers retain the option of a 20 percent discount on any article processing charges that fall outside the agreement. This structure supports a steady increase in openly available New Zealand research while controlling costs for the participating libraries.
Eligible article types typically include research articles, review articles and other primary research outputs. Authors must select their institution during the submission process to activate the open access route. The arrangement applies only to authors with a current affiliation at an eligible CAUL member institution.
Impact on Open Access in Aotearoa New Zealand
New Zealand universities produce a significant volume of research published in Wiley titles. The agreement is expected to increase the proportion of that output that becomes immediately and freely available worldwide. This aligns with national and institutional goals for wider dissemination of publicly funded research and supports compliance with funder open access policies.
By removing financial barriers at the point of publication, the deal particularly benefits early-career researchers, those in disciplines with limited grant funding for article processing charges, and collaborative projects involving multiple institutions. It also strengthens the visibility of New Zealand scholarship in fields ranging from health sciences and engineering to social sciences and humanities.
Participating Institutions and Eligibility
The full list of participating New Zealand institutions appears on the CAUL open access agreements guide. Researchers should verify their institution’s participation and check the current title list before submission, as a small number of titles have been transferred or excluded over time. The agreement is administered through the standard Wiley author workflow, with no separate application required beyond correct institutional affiliation selection.
Institutions benefit from continued read access to Wiley’s portfolio plus the expanded open access publishing rights. This dual benefit helps libraries manage both access and publishing costs within a single negotiated framework.
Broader Context of CAUL Negotiations
The Wiley agreement sits alongside similar read and publish deals negotiated by CAUL with other major publishers. These sector-wide arrangements reflect ongoing collaboration between Australian and New Zealand universities to secure better terms and accelerate the transition to open access. Universities New Zealand has highlighted the agreements as a milestone in delivering fair, sustainable and transparent access to research.
Similar deals with Springer Nature and other publishers are also in place or under negotiation, creating a more comprehensive open access environment for the region’s researchers.
Practical Steps for Authors
Researchers planning to submit to Wiley journals should confirm their institution’s participation and review the eligible title list on the CAUL site. During manuscript submission, authors select their institution from the drop-down menu to activate the open access option. The corresponding author must be affiliated with a participating institution at the point of acceptance.
Library staff at each university can provide guidance on the process and any internal workflows. Authors are encouraged to contact their institution’s library or research office for the most current advice on eligible journals and article types.
Future Outlook and Sector Implications
The three-year term of the agreement provides stability while allowing the sector to monitor uptake and adjust future negotiations. As open access output grows, institutions will gain data on publishing patterns that can inform strategic decisions about research dissemination and library budgets.
The arrangement also positions New Zealand universities to meet evolving expectations from funders, governments and international collaborators that research should be openly available. It contributes to the global shift toward models that balance author rights, institutional costs and publisher sustainability.
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Stakeholder Perspectives
Library leaders across the participating institutions have welcomed the agreement as a practical step that expands options without requiring individual researchers to navigate complex payment processes. University administrators note the alignment with institutional strategies for research impact and open scholarship.
Researchers themselves stand to benefit from greater reach for their work, potential increases in citations and citations, and removal of financial hurdles that previously limited open access choices. The agreement supports equity by ensuring that publication decisions are driven by scholarly merit rather than ability to pay article processing charges.
