New Zealand Books

Someone recommended this to us when my children were 6 and 3; now they are 9 and 6 and decided to listen to it again this week . . . for at least the fifth time. A wonderful deadpan narrator for these extremely funny, extremely strange stories. Even I never tire of them. There is nothing else quite like them.

I picked this audio cassette up at the library for a long car trip last summer. At some point on the journey home it was the only cassette we had not yet listened to, and we popped it in, never having heard of it or the author. It did not take long till the reverent silence in the car confirmed that this was a fabulous collection of stories. My husband and I kept glancing at each other...how had we not heard of these short stories? I know that the children enjoyed them and the parents found them equally delightful! Each one was more wonderful than the last. I am so happy to of found a copy and plan on pressing it on all our friends and relations to borrow, it is a gem.

As an Australian I found this an isightful and thought provoking journey of our past. It made me question and challenge many of my views and certainly opened a new world to me in terms of of politics and race. Highly recommended.

The Cultivation Of Whiteness: Science, Health, And Racial Destiny in Australia is a region-specific, college-level collection which is strong in anthropology and which Australian or multicultural studies will find to be a revealing survey of science and racial destiny. In 19th century Australia doctors were the main commentators on race and biological differences - this examines their perceptions of racism and differences between whites and other cultures, using the foundation of science and medicine as a basis for surveying and even experimenting upon other peoples. An eye-opening set of revelations.

I read this book a year ago and found it such a compelling but chilling read. If it were not so painstakingly researched and the history it reports were not so recent and about a time I remember well, it would be possible to read it as a dramatic nail biting political thriller. The characters that as Australians we know so well are depicted so vividly, their actions so self serving and callous. Given the current political climate in Australia and around the world this book should be compulsory reading for all those who wish to not live through another term of the radical right wing conservatives. Frighteningly history is repeating itself with another election soon, the same campaign tactics exploiting the politics of fear and greed are being played out in the Australian media, fueled by now well seasoned politicians and business interests.

This is a book for the ages. In closely recounting the Tampa crisis, the "children overboard" affair, and the whole sordid mess of Operation Relex and its role in the 2001 federal election, Marr and Wilkinson have made a profound contribution to Australian political journalism, and to documenting the shameful record of Howard, his government of moral degenerates, and their distressingly inept Opposition. What might surprise some of Marr's critics is that this book shows an admirable lack of editorializing: he and Wilkinson don't need to seize the moral high ground and lecture the reader. The facts just speak for themselves. They make abundantly clear Howard's shameless tactics (such as 'dog whistle' and 'wedge' politics), the complete lack of independence in the Australian public service, and the contemptible weakness of military officers who refused to speak up with 'frank and fearless' advice even when they knew the government was lying. What the book also demonstrates is the terrifying gap between daily media reports and the reality of what goes on - and this in a country with a reasonably free press. To be fair, Marr and Wilkinson had the luxury of access to ministers, the detailed records of naval vessels, the reports of various inquiries and more than a year to write their book. But it does make you wonder: are most journalists just lazy? Or does the "news" move at such speed these days and get presented in such a format that it disallows the kind of close analysis a democratic citizenry deserves? Thankfully, people like Marr and Wilkinson are around to reassemble all the pieces for us - their role is essential in a country which seems to be suffering from collective A.D.D. when it comes to Howard and his kind. I was particularly impressed by the authors' meticulous research and referencing, helpful glossary and thorough indexing. This is an important book about a very important issue. I encourage all Australians to read it, and any potential illegal immigrants - sorry, foreign nationals (the Liberal's rhetoric is catching) - who might be interested in understanding the mockery of enlightened democracy that is Australian politics today.

Richard Woldendorf and Tim Winton collaborate to produce a breathtakingly handsome compendium of photography showcasing the beauty, grandeur, majesty, and scenic wonder of Australia in Down To Earth: Australian Landscapes. A remarkable body of work transforming a varied spectrum of landscape images into works of memorable and impressive photographic art recommended to students of photography, as well as the non-specialist general reader who appreciates images drawn from natural landscapes and elevated to the standards of fine art.

As an Australian who has lived for 28 years in the tropics of Australia, I can testify the this book is WYSIWYG. I have seen some of the places depicted, and can assure anyone that the photographs are genuine. I can only urge any person with an artistic frame of mind (or indeed anyone with an interest in Australia) to have a look at this book. They will find it rewarding.

Cheerio

Robbie White

My wife and I recently made a two week motor-home road-trip across the North and South Islands of New Zealand. I'd picked up a copy of "Driving Scenic New Zealand", second edition, quite by chance at a small book-store in Auckland just prior to beginning our road trip. I didn't fully appreciate it until we were on the road.

The book focuses on, in addition to popular destinations, road routes, and invaluable details such as rest stops, information centers, and other amenities along the way. The color maps and travel time estimates are extremely helpful. The author displays a good knowledge of some of the roads less traveled and a genuine love for the scenic beauty of New Zealand.

New Zealand is a country best traveled by road and this book is absolutely essential for anyone who plans to do so. I highly recommend it.

If you tour New Zealand, you will probably spend many hours in a car on rural 2-lane highways with lots of opportunities to stop and meander. Unlike most guidebooks, which focus on destinations, this book tells you what to look for while you're getting from one place to another. During a 4-week tour I found the author to be a consistently reliable guide and I saw and did a lot of great things that I would have missed otherwise. This book is also tastefully and intelligently designed and spiral bound for easy use. It was published in 2001, so I hope the publishers will eventually put out an updated version.

In the scope of the great cities worldwide, Melbourne is a baby. Slightly larger than Vatican City, it's easy to write the city off in contrast to the big five; New York, Paris, Rome, London and Tokyo. However, I always felt with utmost conviction that Melbourne can hold a torch to those great landscapes because of the sheer number of cultures, religions, ideas, viewpoints and backgrounds that have been integrated to give this city its unique character unlike anything else in Australia; Melbourne truly falls under the banner of melting-pot. This encyclopaedia chronicles all the suburbs, municipalities, nationalities, landmarks and institutions that have given the city its rich, albeit short, history from the indigenous era to the gold rush to the booming years of development during the last few decades. The Encyclopedia of Melbourne deserves a place on the bookshelf of any Australian who feels a strong sense of loyalty to Marvellous Melbourne.

Melbourne is easily the best city in Australia. It has the best geography, architecture, restaurants, coffee shops, public transport (we have a fantastic tram network), libraries, galleries and gardens. On top of all that, its inhabitants are remarkably relaxed and friendly. The new 'Encyclopedia of Melbourne' is like the city, expansive and generous, and great for dipping & skipping through over a few weeks. It has hundreds of contributors and a number of personal essays by notable Melbournians (and it weighs a ton). It has a huge range of subjects, including a small section about 'nature strips' and a couple of pages about smells. One of the most poetic entries is about Victoria's seasons and their taxonomy, which were reclassified according to observations of plant and animal life (and removed autumn).

Anyone familiar with Melbourne will find one or two problems: I noticed the section about the National Gallery of Victoria neglected to mention the architect, Roy Grounds. Some readers might also find the general style of the prose too academic or humourless.

Canberra is tranquil but entirely suburban and Perth, Hobart and Brisbane are perhaps too small (but I haven't lived in those three) and Sydney - urgh - is an ugly, car-crushed wasteland that only ignorant tourists could love (yes, I lived there for six years and it's a hole). Melbourne seems to have all the best features of a great city without the usual attendant problems. Was this from luck or the talents of its citizens?

And I'm quite sure any Kiwi birder would agree with that. My review is of the revised edition of this book [ISBN 0670-89370-6].

This most certainly is the most complete guide to the birds of NZ with beautiful and accurate slates. I love its neat layout - slates on the right, description and ID on the left. There are no spill overs so its as simple as that. Where necessary, there are distribution diagrams with a detailed key which makes for very effective guide.

Because NZ birds are so unique, you will love the additional Handbook section which introduces the different genuses. This comes after the field guide, at the back of the book. Everything is very detailed and you can tell that this book has been crafted with alot of attention and care. Which must be why this is the only field guide to NZ birds officially endorsed by the Ornithological Society of NZ.

A downside may be that it's a little bulky to haul around the field, but using it is such a joy that this short coming is quickly compensated.

The book for any self-respecting and serious birder, and an indispensible resource for naturalists or the curious amateur.

I love this book! The pictures are wonderful. The authors have taken a very complex ecosystem and presented it in such a way that anyone with an interest in ecology will enjoy this book and find it easy to understand.
I like the way the book is broken down in to large categories. For example, there is a chapter on the sponges common to the fiords, the brachiopods, the echinoderms, the fishes, the mammals and so on. I found the glossary to be helpful when my memory needed a bit of refreshing, and the index is nice because they have listed common and scientific names.
The photographs are amazing. Very high quality and professional. The captions that accompany the pictures are also very well written and informative. As good as they are, however, they almost don't do the beauty of New Zealand justice. The scenery is breath taking and the fiords are a must see should you happen to have the opprotunity to visit New Zealand.

This is a fabulous book to buy if you are interested in learning about the unique ecosystems of the fiords. The pictures are beautiful and the information explaining how this unique enviornemnt exists is easy to read and understand. If you have visited New Zealand and want a book that shows the beauty under the sea, this is a winner.

Flight of The Albitross is a very powerful book. It's message is very serious, and the book itself is one very much worth reading. A Maori boy of New Zeland and a Caucasion girl from New York fall deeply in love while helping to save an injured albitross. But racial controversies cause onlookers of the relationship to wonder, and the injured albitross becomes sick. Will Mako, Sara, and the albitross overcome their own personal hardships, or will the summer end only in disaster?

Sarah is enchanted by Mako and they lead a very real like and magical adventure that will find your hearts centre. If you have never seen New Zealand then this is the way to imagine it. But do not be discouraged by the sloppy stuff there isn't much at all and the adventures are what blows you away.

Compiled and edited by John Stenhouse (Faculty member, Department of History, University of Otago) and Brett Knowles (Senior Teaching Fellow in Church History in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Otago) with the assistance of academician Antony Wood, The Future Of Christianity: Historical, Sociological, Political And Theological Perspectives From New Zealand is comprised of contributions by a group of New Zealand scholars, theologians, historians and lawyers who examine the relationship of New Zealand's Western culture and Christianity. Scholarly, articulate, intellectually engaging, The Future Of Christianity ranges from Allan K. Davison's "Christianity and National Identity: The Role of the Churches in the Construction of Nationhood", to Mary Petersen's The Future of Christianity in New Zealand: What Is Happening with the Children?", to Peter Lineham's "Social Policy and the Churches in the 1990s and Beyond", to Mike Riddell's "Beyond Ground Zero: Resourcing Faith in a Post-Christian Era Obligation". These and the other informative and intellectually challenging articles make The Future Of Christianity very highly recommended reading.

The circumstances, possibilities, and issues concerning Christianity in New Zealand are a microcosm of these elsewhere in the Western world. This multidisciplinary work aims to inform readers of perspectives and realities regarding contemporary Christianity not reflected or suggested in the popular media. Focus on certain anomalies is especially revealing, as well as to some degree predictive of Christianity's possible future depending on how these are resolved. Kevin Ward, a lecturer of Church issues in the modern world, explores how the "fragmentation and religious pluralism" in postmodernism not only limit and distort understanding of beliefs and developments in Christianity, but also shape strategies for Christians wishing to be a part of modern culture. "Believing Without Belonging" is part of the title of Ward's article. Another by Bruce Knox, Executive Director of Bible College in New Zealand, explores the apparent anomaly that "Christian Allegiance Is Declining, Yet Theological Education Is Booming." The role of religion in shaping the New Zealand national identity, even as the nation was "set up more or less decisively independent of any denominational church influence," is another relevant topic; while a couple of other articles take up political solutions for dealing with the desire of Christians to see their beliefs and values reflected more plainly in government policies and activity. The number of articles by theologians, historians, and sociologists, among others, with their fingers on the pulse of contemporary Christian situations and concerns offer a variety of views on the persistent matter of religion in contemporary life and current affairs.