New Zealand Books

One might have reservations about his politics and the trajectory of his carriage of public office, but it is impossible to deny the impact David Lange and his fourth Labour government had on New Zealand society, nor his eloquence as a public speaker and raconteur. When Lange died of complications from renal failure last year New Zealand lost a unique voice and left no obvious successor.

This short autobiographical memoir - dictated in his last days, as his eyesight gave out and he could no longer read or write, is a wonderful book. Lange's prose is wonderful in the early stages - benefitting, I think, from the manner in which he delivered the manuscript (you can almost hear it as an ex tempore public address) - and there is something sombre and moving about the way, as the chapters progress, the fluidity dries up, a function of Lange's failing health and ebbing energy. David Lange died two days after the final proofs rolled from the presses.

Not only beautifully crafted, but historically interesting too: clearly (and unashamedly) coloured by Lange's own perspective, it is a useful prism for viewing the directions in which Lange pulled his administration, which at the time defied easy explanation. Lange is candid about the deterioration of his relationship with co-architect Roger Douglas, and magnanimous enough to recognise that their long-lasting rancour was due as much to his own intemperate personality as Douglas' uncompromising vision.

I dare say that Douglas' memoir of the same period, should he write one (and I hope he does) will provide a somewhat different and equally valuable picture of events.

Ultimately the Lange administration will be seen in the wider geo-political context of the 1980s perhaps as something that was going to happen at some point anyway, but when one looks at the vibrant, dynamic and diverse culture, economy and polity that New Zealand enjoys today, and compare it with the staid and stultifying one which Lange took on in 1984, one can only tip one's hat to the man who actually did start that process rolling and acknowledge this very personal record of the events.

In 1984 Lange's soon-to-be predecessor, the late unlamented Rob Muldoon, left a sarcastic epitaph, reflexively, in the course of being pasted in a televised political debate: when stumped for anything to else say at all, barked bitterly: "I Love You, Mister Lange".

A few years on, with plenty of hindsight and more wounds healed by time, this might yet - without Muldoon's ironic veneer - grow to be the received wisdom about David Russell Lange's contribution to New Zealand's political history.

Olly Buxton

E. J. Banfield's My Tropic Isle presents the writings of an erudite individual in frail health, who had retired to a tropical island near Australia in 1895. An avowed disciple of Thoreau, Banfield personally observed and experienced the wonder and complexity in nature. This in turn, brought an enduring joy to his life, and motivated him to lobby the government to declare his beloved island (and others near it) as "Reserves for the Protection and Preservation of Native Birds." A thoughtful account sure to resonate with the hearts of nature lovers everywhere, My Tropic Isle is a welcome addition to the growing library of Nature Conservation literature.

I admit that I purchased my original first edition of this book solely for the photographs of Tahiti and the nearby island of Moorea. The prose was of secondary interest to me.

However, upon reading the first chapter of this Irish-American adventurer's memoirs, I became hooked on the fascinating descriptions of the places and the people, whose life style was already, in 1921, being replaced by imported modernity.

The attitudes are, of course, dated and ethnocentric, but the author's love for the lands and the life of the South Seas becomes evident, as the many characters (both native and expatriate European) virtually come to life in this charming first-hand account of life in Tahiti.

This is a wonderful volume to dip into a little bit at a time, and some parts will read more easily to a 21st century arm-chair adventurer than others. But it left me with an intention to seek out the other two South Seas books by the same author, "White Shadows In The South Seas" and "Atolls In The Sun".

If you like travel memoirs of exotic, unspoiled places, you'll enjoy this book immensely, as I did.

Frank Dalton Embreeville, PA

It's simply fantastic the way Elibron is republishing old and rare books in fac-similia, like this Anthropological classic of Baldwin Spencer and Francis Gillen, the heroic duo who captured the life of the Arunta (or Aranda) and other tribes still "untouched" by the white men at the end of the 19th century. This epoch-making book had a tremendous impact in Anthropology and it still is of huge importance. The quality of the reprint is perfect, including the photographs taken by Spencer and Gillen themselves. The only suggestion would be the addition of a brief introduction by a scholar of our time who could present the work of Spencer and Gillen to the general reader. The cover of the book is from our time and just beautiful. Congratulations to Elibron Books, they are doing "public service" with these reprints.

This book has good coverage of the New World areas. The photos are very good quality, varied and informative. I just wish they had used a Screwpull for a photo instead of those silly wing-type corkscrews. Some personel are covered, from various wineries, which is interesting (similar to the "Wine Spectator" or "Wines & Spirits" coverage). Most of the content focuses on grapes and land, with some coverage of equipment usage.

I got this for myself and opened it yesterday to look at it. I was delighted that the pages are thick and glossy. The pictures are awesome. Large spaces to write in and looks simply beautiful on the wall.

Great gift and you will want one for yourself.

a large book,with excellent,informative text about new zealands unique bird life,pre and post man.the paintings by ching are extremely life like, with great detail given even to the background.some 40 colored plates,and 50 black and white sketches,plates on the australian magpie and the house sparrow were unnessary, but the plate of the huia and the takahe are superb.all in all a beautifull book.

To the best of my knowledge NZ Driving Holidays is the first pictorial travel guidebook of its kind published in New Zealand. The itinerary-style guide makes touring a breeze with detailed easy-to-read maps, stunning panoramic photography plus an extensive commentary on all the best places to visit and explore. What makes the book unique in my view is that it is written in the first person, and so you get a real sense of what it would actually be like as the author and her friend Bob, travel around New Zealand. I also enjoyed reading the breakout features on New Zealand Wine, Spas and Thermal resorts, and Golf etc.

This little book is an excellent, comprehensive photographic field guide to all 59 species of amphibians and reptiles native to New Zealand. The photos are of good quality, the text contains all the essential info on appearence, distribution and ecology, and each family is introduced with a key to identifying all species.
Unfortunately, you may not get to actually use it too much - I could hardly think of a country where reptiles, even usually common skinks or geckos, are as hard to find as in New Zealand! But that only makes the book even more valuable - even if you see very few herps, it will at least show you all those exotics you are missing in the field! ;-)

Frankly, I'm not sure it matters whether this one's serious or not. It's a well thought-out game in its own right, as well as being a reverent parody of golf obsession and the perfect gift for the golfer who seems to have everything. The ball alone, oval-shaped but otherwise looking like a golf ball, is worth the price, if only to see the looks of befuddlement it gets. The attention to detail in the accompanying book is priceless (check out the history of the development of the ball). I for one will be watching to see if this takes off as the author seems convinced it will. Hey, who would have thought that Frisbee Golf could attract such a loyal fan base?