New Zealand Books

I was not familiar with this British travelguide series until I used this edition for my recent trip to New Zealand. The book is very easy to use, with pleasing layouts, and up-to-date and reliable restaurant recommendations of sites to see, hotels, restaurants, etc. The writer really showed his familiarity with NZ, and the writing was crisp and energetic. I had researched several guides to NZ (Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet, Rough Guide) before I left and found this one to be the best. I also looked into the Footprints guide to Australia and found it to be equally first-rate. I will definitely consider a Footprints guide again the next time I travel.

Their love belonged to another time -

After four years, Stephanie was almost certain she'd buried any love she'd once felt for Dare Nayton. He'd been quick to think the worst of her then, and just as quick to cancel their marriage plans.

Now he'd returned to New Zealand, a lovely blonde in tow. Stephanie couldn't help wondering about their future - and her own.

Dare, it seemed, was bent on reviving the past...including a passion that still flared between them.

I love history but most historical books are pretty dry and boring but this one was alot different, quite interesting. Great read if you love history!

This incredibl, informative and delightful ride on horseback through the country of New Zealand (a far away place many of us will never be able to visit in person) is one of my favorite books. Imagine leisurely exploring an entire country on horseback!

There are several pictures in brilliant color depicting the diverse people, the spectacular scenery including magnificent snow capped mountains and swift large rivers, and many black and white pictures as well, enabling us to join in the ride.

Robin and Louella Hanbury-Tenison explored this magical country on horseback together and vividly describe their adventures, sharing them with readers who love true and exciting accounts. Proceeds from their expedition raised money for charity entitled Riding for the Disabled. They are an English couple with environmental concerns as well. This journey is one of many as they explored other parts of the world in other books.

This book also provides insights into the economic and environmental problems in New Zealand. You will learn a great deal of the country's history.

Imagine riding horses up high mountain peaks covered with snow and then descending to the hot dry valley floors, seeing native animals up close, talking with shepherds and owners of the huge sheep farms, sleeping in various kinds of weather both outside and sometimes inside primitive huts, grazing horses, basking in lush natural surroundings in what they call "the most beautiful country in the world"! As you read this highly descriptive book, you can almost smell that sharp fresh air after a rain and see the colorful rainbows, all the while riding in a comfortable saddle on eager healthy horses. The entire country is well described in every way possible.

Want to take a journey to a special land on horseback? For a true adventure story you will not forget, read this book and others written by Robin Hanbury-Tenison, an explorer extraordinare!

Excellent and gripping true account of a decorated Spitfire pilot's war time flying experiances. The book is written by one of the very last - who was one of the few to survive against such enormous odds.

This is a collection put together of letters from refugees in Australian detention centres. For those of you that don't know this - Australia has a policy of taking in only 12,000 refugees a year - this is nothing compared to many other countries. If they arrive here without a visa they are immediately put into a detention centre, in the most harsh, remote places in Australia and kept there until their applications are 'processed' - the process drags on and on and the Australian government is particularly cruel to refugees and has had the UNHCR criticised the processes and procedures used.
This book provides an amazing insight into their world and what it is like for them to be locked up in a detention centre with their rights void.
This is what one refugee has to say:
'This place is not for human being. This is refugee zoo. The government keep me in zoo without crime. Here in the centre not good things to do. Just thinking and thinking. I came here for safe life. But the government put me in prison. They do not want to here my problem. They just want to pass the time. This is no justice. They want to make me crazy. Now I'm crazy. Dead is much better than this zoo.'
The proceeds for this book go towards helping the refugees - for this reason alone I urge people to get this book and see into their world.

The author was a prominant early historian and this work, subtitled "A History of Northern New Zealand from 1642 to 1818", deals with the earliest contacts between European and Maori in the nothern area of the North Island, beginning with the voyages of Tasman, Cook and De Surville and other short-term visitors before moving to the first timber traders and whalers, the Boyd massacre and missionaries, particularly those based around the Bay of Islands. Especially interesting are observations about the Maori. An important study of the first associations of the two races. 236 pages including bibliography, indices of persons, shipping and general.

From Tussocks to Tourists is the story of the central Canterbury high country. The Waimakariri, The Rakaia, The Rangitata the catchments of these mighty rivers make up the magnificent high country of central Canterbury.

From Tussocks to Tourists is for those who know and love the Canterbury high country, and also those who have glimpsed the area and wish to learn more about this iconic part of New Zealand.

Contents: Ice & Shingle; Wind and Snow; Tussock & Matagouri; From Briar Rose to Wilding Pine; Early Settlement; Across The Alps; Where Wool is King; Alpine Playground; Jetboats to Helicopters; Looking After the Land; The Inspirational Land.

Illustrated with wonderful evocative paintings, colour & b&w photos, and maps

Out of the 5 or 6 books I've reviewed on NZ travel, this is the one that will be actually carried and used on my month-long trip. The information is never vague; for example excursion trips are described, the top providers are listed with all necessary details. Maps are extensive and frequent. I particularly liked the fact that while there are many ideas for budget travel, also included are the special hotels or restaurants or offroad trips that can cost more but are considered worth it. This guide is for everyone, versus Lonely Planet, (the backpacking crowd) or Fodors ( high end spenders) or Inside Guides (good pictures and background, no practical information).

I have always felt that the official history of Australia was very strange and very boring. It contained scarce mention of large scale conflicts and almost no mention of the people who had been occupying our land for the 30,000 years prior to european colonisation. Many people who have learned about the history of white Australia have felt the same but Henry Reynolds was one of the few people to become active in the field and say definitively that black history deserves a voice and that black history is so very different to the stereotypes and urban mythologies that have come to characterise it for many Australians. This book and others that have been influenced by Reynolds' stance have thoroughly changed the way many people see Australian history and I predict it will influence many people to take a more compassionate and integrated view of other races.