New Zealand Books

What I found so refreshing about this WWII hero was his deep humility. He earned the Victoria Cross - twice; being the only combat solider to have ever done so (once while in Crete & once in N. Africa). He was finally captured and tried to escape several times before being located into the famous Colditz P.O.W. camp. Even more interesting is how Upham dealt with his fame after the war. No doubt about it - a true WWII hero.

Extract of a review by Stacy C. Kozakavich, Dept. of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley

Discussing the archaeological sites for colonial shipwrecks, Mark Staniforth introduces readers to the Sydney Cove 1797, the William Salthouse 1841, James Matthews 1841, and the Eglington 1852, all lost carrying speculative cargo on their first voyage to Australian destinations. ...
Despite some weaknesses, Staniforth's work offers particular strengths to those engaged in the study of consumer society and capitalism. First is the focus on international networks of colonial trade that brought goods from India, China, Canada, and the United States to British colonies and Australia. Second is Staniforth's commitment to bringing questions of social and material meanings, usually footed in the domain of terrestrial archaeologists, to maritime archaeology. While his specific interpretations of material culture may be reevaluated by future scholarship, this work will remain important as part of the bridge between land and sea.

I have travelled before using the "old standards" (Lonely Planet, Let's Go, etc), but I have never been fully statisfied by them. When I stumbled upon this series, I was amazed. They include so much information, it is like a god-send! It was a history lesson, language tutor, and travel guide all in one! Over half of the book was comprised of the history of the island, local slang, and the culture of the Kiwis. The travel section was not lacking by any means. It mentioned places other books did not, and give a through description of the listings, along with local signifigance. It had everything I'd ever dreamed a travel book would have. I'd recommend all the books in this series and I plan to use them exclusively for all my further travels.

Peter McIntyre tops the list of 20th Century New Zealand artists. His work is wonderful, both paintings and sketches. I believe he was NZ's official WWII painter, but is best known for the paintings of his beloved homeland. He also did some paintings in the US, typically western.

The greatest man in New Zealand reviews the second greatest man of that sad country.

Bob Jones shows his greatness by speaking highly of the man he toppled from the Treasury benches in 1984.

New Zealand must elect this great man its first president when it becomes a republic.

Expectations were hign after having bought & used James Halliday's combined AU/NZ Wine Companion for some years and I must say, I wasn't disappointed...
A whopping 500 pages on NZ alone, pocketsized (you'll need a big pocket !) with a somewhat different, but still useable index.
The book is organised in grape varietals, so you have to know what you are looking for, from that point of view.
With each grape, firstly a short (1 page) talk about that specific grape variety and following this, it's indexed alphabetically (producer name) which means that - if you're searching on a specifik producer - you will have to look for a him/her under various grapes.
A different angle to indexing but acceptable..
A few words on the winegrower, followed by a sharp and precise description of that particular grape. Most recent vintages are also rated, together with an indication of drinkability (when and for how long).
Writing style is no-nonsense and 'cut to the bone'..
Local prices are given too (to give you an indication of pricelevel)
The book opens with a refreshingly short intro (no lengthy Parker intro) with a 2007 vintage report, best buys of the year...and the straight into the details.
The wineries are indeed indexed in the end, so no problems with finding everything about the individual growers.

No labels...but I'm afraid the book would have triplicated in size, then - and the size is acceptable, even as a pocket-/travellers-book.

All in all : a book packed with (relevant) information - a MUST for anyone who wine-travels in NZ or just wants the right encyclopedia on NZ wines..

This book of three stories is certainly a treat--especially of you like paranormal romance, which I do. Mostly, it's just really well written stories with a theme of love and romance, with fanges and warewolves, etc. It's one of the better ones I've read. I also liked Dead Sexy: Two Tales of Vampire Erotica.

Milestones: Turning Points in New Zealand History by Tom Brooking.

Milestones tells the story of New Zealand in a distinctive new way. The milestones are turning points that have shaped our past and made us what we are today. The volume covers the entire sweep of New Zealand history - from voyages of discovery, decisive battles and women's rights to landmarks in race and industrial relations. For ready reference and ease of use, each of the milestones is written as a complete episode. Where necessary the milestones are linked by a narrative that covers the years in between. A year-by-year list of key events concludes the book. Authoritative yet easy to read, every New Zealand family will find it an essential guide to their national heritage. Soft cover, 222 pages. Published in 1999.

Pacific Island Books

Although out of print and out of date, this is still a superb and unparalleled picture guide to the terrain of New Zealand. The mountains, coasts, and parklands it covers should be essentially unchanged since the publication date of 1982. The copious and excellent photo coverage is beautifully organized with thunmbnail locater maps on every two page spread to help you pinpoint the areas that look most interesting for a visit.

This is a difficult to find book.It has been republished several times and this is the latest. It is a classic and very valuable for anyone touring New Zealand's South Island. There is a companion book for the North Island.