News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

Animals, plants, politics and poetry feature this month in the New Zealand collection.

New Zealand inventory of biodiversity / edited by Dennis P. Gordon.
“Appropriate for advanced high school and college students as well as working scientists, this intriguing guide is the first of three volumes that will chart the progress of a scientific inventory of New Zealand’s living and fossilized biodiversity. An international effort involving more than 220 New Zealand specialists, this project, when completed, will include every one of the almost 55,000 known species of animals, plants, fungi, and micro-organisms in the country. Part of Species 2000, an international scientific project, the long-term goal is to enumerate all known species on earth into one seamless list called the Catalog of Life, which will function as an online biological catalog. To date, only New Zealand has compiled a checklist of its entire biota.” (Syndetics summary)

An extraordinary land : discoveries and mysteries from wild New Zealand / written by Peter Hayden ; photographs by Rod Morris.
“Our isolation has been a huge advantage. It turned New Zealand into a wild laboratory where evolution could conduct experiments that lead to weird and wonderful outcomes like the kakpo and the giant weta. It was also a museum, where ancient creatures could exist long after their kind disappeared from the rest of the world. More recently, scientists are discovering how little we know about species we thought we knew so well. An Extraordinary Land brings us up to date with these discoveries and gives us a snapshot of what makes New Zealand wildlife unique”–Jacket flap.

His own steam : the work of Barry Brickell / with essays by David Craig & Gregory O’Brien and new photography by Haruhiko Sameshima.
“Potter extraordinaire, conservationist, railway enthusiast and iconoclast Barry Brickell is one of New Zealand’s most important ceramicists … In essays by David Craig and Gregory O’Brien and with both newly commissioned photographs by Haru Sameshima and historic images, His Own Steam: The Work of Barry Brickell charts Brickell’s career in its entirety and in the context of his life and times, timed to coincide with a survey exhibition of the same name at The Dowse Art Museum”–Publisher information.

Sewing freedom : Philip Josephs, transnationalism & early New Zealand anarchism / Jared Davidson ; [foreword by Barry Bateman ; illustrations by Alec Icky Dunn].
“Davidson has produced much more than a soundly researched and very engaging biography… this is an excellent, wide-ranging contribution to our knowledge of the international (and indeed transnational) anarchist movement, and sweeps us along in a fascinating story that takes us from the pogroms in Russian Latvia, to the working-class slums of Victorian Glasgow, to the early struggles of the nascent labour movement in New Zealand.”–Dr David Berry, author of “A History of the French Anarchist Movement” (Syndetics Summary)

Paradise past : the transformation of the South Pacific, 1520-1920 / Robert W. Kirk.
“In the 400 years from Magellan’s entrance into Pacific waters to 1920, the lives of the people of the South Pacific were utterly transformed. Exotic diseases from Europe and America, particularly the worldwide influenza pandemic, were deadly for islanders. Ardent missionaries changed the belief systems and lives of nearly all Polynesians, Aborigines, and those Papuans and Melanesians living in areas accessible to westerners. By 1920 every island and atoll in the South Seas had been claimed as a colony or protectorate of a power such as Britain, France or the United States. Factors aiding this imperial sweep included European outposts such as Sydney, advances in maritime technology, the work of missionaries, a desire to profit from the area’s relatively sparse resources, and international rivalry that led to the scramble for colonies. The coming of westerners, as this book points out, was not entirely negative, as head-hunting, cannibalism, chronic warfare, human sacrifice, and other practices were diminished–but whole cultures were irreversibly changed or even eradicated.” (Syndetics Summary)

The Judas tree : poems / by Lorna Staveley Anker ; edited by Bernadette Hall.
” Lorna Staveley Anker was born in 1914. She used to joke that this was the cause of the First World War. In truth, the fine poems in this collection reveal her as New Zealand’s first women war poet. This collection contains the best of her published poems and a substantial number never seen before.” (Adapted from back cover)

Apollo in George Street : the life of David McKee Wright / Michael Sharkey.
“David McKee Wright was the most prolific poet in Australia around the First World War, and the influential literary editor of the Sydney Bulletin. This biography brings to life aspects of the literary culture of New Zealand in the years before its independence, and of Australia in the early years of Federation.” (Syndetics Summary)

Vincent O’Sulivan has revised and enhanced the 1974 Katherine Mansfield’s New Zealand. New Zealand is seen through Katherines’s eyes with excerpts from her writing and colour added with new images. We also feature two books looking at the Christchurch earthquake from two very different perspectives, one from the NZ volunteer Response teams in Responders and the other focusing on Christchurch cafe life. Also the Battle for Crete, North Island courthouses and family history finish off this month’s picks.

Katherine Mansfield’s New Zealand / Vincent O’Sullivan.
“A stunning, fully illustrated guide to the country and times that shaped our greatest short story writer — a feast of images and relevant excerpts from Mansfield’s stories and journals. Katherine Mansfield was born in Wellington in 1888 and died in France in 1923, regarded as one of the finest short story writers of her time. Her country of birth, initially a source of frustration for her, in time came to influence her writing. From Kezia’s Karori journey in Prelude, to the landscape of The Woman at the Store, the images of colonial New Zealand are a distinctive and compelling part of Katherine Mansfield’s writing. A fascinating section of the book details her expedition to the Urewera and thermal regions. The first (monochrome) edition of Katherine Mansfield’s New Zealand appeared in 1974; this edition has been extensively revised, with colourful new images and vivid excerpts from Katherine Mansfield’s writing.” (Syndetics summary)

Responders : the New Zealand volunteer response teams, Christchurch earthquake deployments / Pete Seager & Deb Donnell.
“RESPONDERS: The NZ Volunteer Response Teams Christchurch Earthquake Deployments gives the readers a unique, behind-the-scenes look into the contribution of the New Zealand volunteer response teams in the days and weeks that followed the Christchurch Earthquakes. Twenty two teams of over 300 trained light rescue volunteers came from all over New Zealand to assist a city in shock. They have contributed their private photographs and personal accounts of their deployments to help the 111 Emergency Services and USAR Task Forces provide assistance to Christchurch after the September 2010 Darfield Earthquake and the more devastating 22 February 2011 Christchurch Earthquake.” (Adapted from Syndetics summary)

Café reflections on Christchurch City, 1975 – 2012 : a tribute to the Christchurch central business district community / Deb Donnell.
“This book looks at life pre-quake for the CBD community, and takes the reader through a personalised account of what happened in the CBD when the earthquake struck, as well as giving an update of the 18 months post quake for Deb, her family, and many of her CBD friends and neighbours”–Publisher’s information.

Men of valour : New Zealand and the battle for Crete / Ron Palenski.
“New Zealand’s battle for Crete in the Second World War. For a time in the Second World War, Crete was the prize both sides wanted. The Allies had it and the Germans wanted it. The Germans won. The man in charge of hanging on to it was Bernard (Tiny) Freyberg, the New Zealand Divison commander who was made the Greek island s intended saviour. With him was a ragtag army of New Zealand, Australian, British and Greek troops, most of whom had just been beaten off Greece; they had the clothes they stood up in and most of their arms and ammunition had been left behind in Greece. They had to withstand the mightiest airborne invasion the world had yet seen. They had to confront the elite of Hitler s army, a blitzkrieg from the air. Wearily, both sides fought almost to a standstill. It was a German victory but at such a cost that it was the end of airborne assaults; German losses were almost as many as those of the Allies. The New Zealanders got away thanks to the Royal Navy or on boats they begged, borrowed or stole; many never got away at all.” (Adapted from Syndetics summary)

Built for justice : visits to old North Island courthouses / Terry Carson.
“Built for Justice tells the story behind 61 old North Island courthouse buildings. Designed and typeset by award winning book designer Anna Egan-Reid, Built for Justice is an attractive hard cover, 176 page book, illustrated with 90 colour images and fifteen black and white. The book through photographs, historical research, newspaper reports and anecdotes takes an entertaining social history look at the role of courthouses in small town New Zealand.” (Syndetics summary)

Letters my grandfather wrote me : family origins / Bryan Crawford.
“Receiving two Victorian portraits from his grandfather, the author begins a forty-five year investigation into his famly origins. He discovers an amazing diversity of backgrounds from Yorkshire and Devon ancestors to Scottish kings. The author lives in Wellington.” (Adapted from back cover)

This month the New Zealand Collection features history of Antarctica and also some great new and revised New Zealand history. This includes an item that focuses on teaching history to secondary school students. The last book is a study of issues faced by whānau in Māori education.

A history of Antarctica / Stephen Martin.
“This revised and expanded book – first published in 1996 – traces the patterns of human activity in Antarctica, from the southern journeys of the 16th century to the modern expeditions of adventurers and tourists. Using material from diaries, letters, and fresh research, the book illuminates the main themes of Antarctic history with the personal stories and images of the men and women who explored, worked, and lived in this frozen and remote continent. The book examines such topics as the early Polynesian explorers, the amazing diversity of flora and fauna, the detailed geological features, etc. A History of Antarctica is about the people of Antarctica – those who have chosen to endure the risks and enjoy the rewards of conquering the world’s most forbidding land.”(Syndetics summary)

Surveying the Antarctic : the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition 1957-1958 / Eugene Brian Fitzgerald.
“This volume is the story of the first New Zealand Official Government Expedition to Antarctica. It is based on the diary, notes and memory of the author, together with the letters and accounts written by other members of the expedition.” (Syndetics summary)

Images from Albertland : Harold Marsh, 1876-1948 / Paul Campbell.
“William Harold Marsh, farmer, father and adventurous photographer captured a time of enchantment, when life was lived at a slower place, governed by a different set of values and priorities and ambitions. One of the first generation of those immigrants who sailed around the world to settle in Albertland, 70,000 coastal acres on the Kaipara Harbour, in Northland, New Zealand, he has left a legacy of those times, a window into the past for those yet to come.” (Syndetics summary)

The Heaphy Track / Chris Petyt.
“Heaphy he never actually followed the whole route. He along with Thomas Brunner and Kehu, their Maori guide, travelled down the coast in 1846 from the north and only traversed the coastal section of the track from the Heaphy River to the Kohaihai River. The first Europeans to traverse the route are only recorded as “Aldridge and his mate”. Following the discovery of gold in the Aorere Valley in late 1865, the route of the Heaphy Track was used by gold miners to traverse between the Aorere Goldfield and those that were subsequently discovered on the West Coast. Author Chris Petyt has dug deep and wide to assemble this first comprehensive account of the human history of the Heaphy Track. Today, the Heaphy is one of New Zealand’s premier walking tracks and the longest of the multi-day tracks designated by the Department of Conservation as Great Walks. Those contemplating a trip over the track will also find it useful as the final chapter is a guide to walking the track.” (Syndetics summary)

Turning points : events that changed the course of New Zealand history / Paul Moon.
“Historian Paul Moon has chosen 20 events that have shaped the course of New Zealand history over the years. The events are described and illustrated with photographs drawn from the archives, and Moon outlines how New Zealand history has changed as a result”–Publisher’s information.

The story of a treaty / Claudia Orange.
“The Treaty of Waitangi is a central document in New Zealand history. This lively account tells the story of the Treaty from its signing in 1840 through the debates and struggles of the nineteenth century to the gathering political momentum of recent decades. The second edition of this popular book brings the story up to the present”–Back cover.

Greater Māori Auckland / David Simmons ; including the Māori place names of Auckland, collected by George Graham.
“Traditional tales of the Auckland isthmus and wider region. The author extends his original Maori Auckland (1987), to include the broad regions north and south.” (Syndetics summary)

History matters : teaching and learning history in New Zealand secondary schools in the 21st century / Michael Harcourt and Mark Sheehan, editors.
“History Matters reflects the dynamic nature of teaching and learning history in New Zealand secondary classrooms. It demonstrates not only the wealth of enthusiasm and expertise within the history teaching community,but also a commitment by teachers to developing a research literature on historical thinking that is `for teachers and by teachers¿. The book bridges the gap between theory and practice among history teachers and contributes to the sorts of questions that teachers are currently addressing as they seek to improve our understanding of what it means to teach history in New Zealand in the second decade of the 21st century.” (Syndetics summary)

Kia puāwaitia ngā tumanako : critical issues for whānau in Māori education / Jessica Hutchings … [et al.].
“This report presents the findings of a kaupapa Maori research project called Critical Issues for Whanau in Maori Education. We asked a variety of whanau the question: What sorts of educational research would be of benefit to your children and whanau in education? The aim was to use the whanau responses to refine a Maori-led and whanau-informed research agenda for Te Wahanga. Whanau are integral to the educational wellbeing of Maori students. Yet little educational research has been done with an explicit whanau focus. This research aimed to help fill the gap. We used the kaupapa Maori approach of whanaungatanga and the method of korero a-whanau to work directly with whanau in ways that upheld their integrity and authority. Korero a-whanau ensures the voices and day to day experiences of whanau in education are heard. It acknowledges their diverse priorities and aspirations. Three overarching themes connected the many issues raised by whanau. These are Nga Moemoea (whanau aspirations), Rangatiratanga (whanau autonomy and authority) and Te Reo Rangatira (learning and maintenance of reo Maori)” (Syndetics summary)

At a Gala Awards Presentation on the 28th February, Dame Anne Salmond was honoured as the 2013 New Zealander of the Year. This award is for a New Zealander who has made, according to the organisers of the award, “a significant contribution to our nation and makes us proud of our country and what can be achieved”. This year’s recipient is a well known author and we have in our collection her eight award winning books on the topics of Māori life and early contacts between Europeans and islanders in Polynesia. Anne Salmond is an eminent historian, writer and academic. She worked closely with Eruera and Amiria Stirling, Te Whaanau-a-Apanui and Ngati Porou elders, and this collaboration led to her first three books. Here are her books in reverse chronological order.

Bligh : William Bligh in the South Seas / Anne Salmond.
“Aphrodite’s Island is a bold new account of the European discovery of Tahiti, the Pacific island of mythic status in Western imaginings about sexuality, the exotic, and the nobility or bestiality of ’savages’. In this groundbreaking book, Anne Salmond takes readers to the centre of these societies’ shared history to furnish rich insights into Tahitian perceptions of the visitors while illuminating the full extent of European fascination with Tahiti. As she discerns the impact and meaning of the European effect on the island, she demonstrates how, during the early contact period, the mythologies of Europe and Tahiti intersected and became entwined.Drawing on Tahitian oral histories, European manuscripts and artworks, and collections of Tahitian artifacts, and illustrated with sketches, paintings, and engravings from the voyages, Aphrodite’s Island provides a vivid account of the Europeans’ Tahitian adventures. The book’s many compelling insights into Tahitian life will significantly change the way we view the history of this small island during a period when it became a crossroads for Europe.” (Syndetics summary)

The trial of the cannibal dog : Captain Cook in the South Seas / Anne Salmond.
“The Pacific voyages of James Cook sailed across perilous tropical seas, survived hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, discovered unknown lands and peoples and made their Captain an icon of imperial history.” “Yet, as Anne Salmond shows, the story of these epic South Sea journeys is far more than one of conquest and control. She has devoted a lifetime to the study of relations between Europeans and Polynesians, and this startling, rich, stylish book is the result. In Salmond’s account, Cook’s great voyages regain their dreamlike quality as they encounter the last major human communities untouched by wider worlds. Far from being little wooden islands of Englishness in a Polynesian sea, his ships and the men in them are as much changed by what happens as the islanders they meet. We see them alarmed and entranced by the islanders’ open sexuality, shocked by human sacrifice and cannibalism, but also forging relationships with Pacific Island friends and lovers, acquiring tattoos and learning to speak Polynesian languages, with Cook himself granted the status of high chief in many areas before his violent downfall.” (Book Jacket)

Between worlds : early exchanges between Maori and Europeans, 1773-1815 / Anne Salmond.
“This book follows on from ‘Two Worlds’ which covered the period from Abel Tasman’s visit to Cook’s in 1772, and explores the time from Cook’s second visit to the establishment of the first missionary settlement. It is in three parts: science and whakapapa; utu, law and commerce; and tapu and religion. It is illustrated with black and white images and maps, and includes an appendix detailing the many visits by European ships during the period.” (Syndetics summary)

Two worlds : first meetings between Maori and Europeans, 1642-1772 / Anne Salmond.
“This book is a provocative synthesis of two previously seperate views of the dramatic action-packed first meetings of Māori and Europeans in New Zealand. The result is a work of trail blazing significance in which many popular misconceptions and bigotries to do with common perceptions of traditional Māori society are revealed. It also opens up new possibilities in the international study of European exploration and ‘discovery’.” (Adapted from front cover)

Eruera, the teachings of a Maori elder / Eruera Stirling as told to Anne Salmond.
“The book is concerned to preserve the traditional knowledge Eruera Stirling had himself received from tribal elders. There is an outline tribal history, and an account of life in his youth. Concepts such as mana, matauranga and whakapapa are discussed, as well as recent important events in New Zealand race relations. The book won the Wattie Book Award in 1981. ‘Two Worlds’, Anne Salmond’s most recent book, won a Wattie Award and the New Zealand Book Award for non-fiction in 1991.” (Syndetics summary)

Amiria : the life story of a Maori woman / Amiria Manutahi Stirling ; as told to Anne Salmond.
“Amiria Manutahi Stirling was born at Taumata-o-mihi, a small settlement near Ruatoria on the East Coast. She was a member of the Ngāti Hinekehu sub-tribe of Ngāti Porou. In 1918 her elders arranged her marriage to Eruera Stirling of Te Whānau-ā-Maru in the Bay of Plenty, a match aimed at strengthening traditional links between two groups. The story of her life and marriage is told in this book.” (Adapted from back cover)

Hui : a study of Maori ceremonial gatherings / Anne Salmond.
“This book introduces us to all aspects of the hui and its significance for the Māori. It is a definitive study of ceremonial gatherings and the riruals that are the life blood of the marae. She presents a comprehensive account of Māori ceremonial gatherings for the formal student of ethnology and anthropology and provides absorbing reading for the lay person, Māori and Pākehā, with an interest in Māoritanga.” (Adapted from front cover)

From the mountains to the oceans, the urban forest to an island, this month’s collection features a look at New Zealand’s diverse natural and urban environments. There is also a timeline of key events in our history in “Nation Dates” and the last book “Sinai Journal” looks at 30 years of New Zealand’s involvement in multinational foces.

Above the treeline : a nature guide to alpine New Zealand / Alan F. Mark ; contributions by David Galloway, Rod Morris, David Orlovich, Brian Patrick, John Steel and Mandy Tocher.
“This first ever field-guide to New Zealand’s rich and diverse alpine environment includes: an informative introduction on alpine habitats and ecology; detailed descriptions of more than 675 species of flowering plants; a visual guide to easily recognised flowering-plant genera ; sections on conifers, ferns, mosses and liverworts, lichens and fungi; coverage of alpine fauna, including birdgs and lizards, butterflies and moths, grasshoppers, beetles and other invertebrates.–Cover”. (Syndetics summary)

Coastal fishes of New Zealand / Malcolm Francis.
“Coastal Fishes of New Zealand provides a comprehensive, informative and up-to-date identification guide to the fishes likely to be encountered by New Zealand divers and fishers. Illustrated with over 275 superb colour photographs of live fish in their natural habitats, this book includes all of New Zealand’s common reef fishes, and also many of those that live in other habitats. Using the latest research, marine scientist Malcolm Francis also provides a wealth of other information about identifying features, geographical distribution, habitat and size for 221 species of fish. Other interesting biological features, such as feeding, growth, spawning and behaviour are also discussed. If you were to have one book on the abundant fish life found around our coasts, this is the one to own.” (Syndetics summary)

Auckland’s remarkable urban forest / Mike D. Wilcox.
“Auckland’s Remarkable Urban Forest provides a comprehensive account of the trees and forests of Auckland. It covers trees to be found in the parks, reserves, campuses, school grounds, cemeteries and historic homesteads of the city; public native bush reserves within the urban Auckland area; native revegetation projects undertaken by community groups; exotic woodlands; street trees; trees of suburban home gardens; notable trees; flowering trees; tree health, forest climbers weeds; utilisation and management of the urban forest”. (Syndetics summary)

Matiatia : gateway to Waiheke / Paul Monin.
“Matiatia Bay is the gateway to Waiheke Island. Lying beside the island’s best natural harbour, it has been the landing place for Maori waka, settler barges, tourist yachts and commuter ferries today. This beautiful heritage site is threatened by development – a marina is proposed, and intensive parking. Establishing the significance of the past, historian Paul Monin tells Matiatia’s story from early Maori occupation to the present day. Here in a fertile bay in the magnificent setting of the Hauraki Gulf is a microcosm of New Zealand’s history. Charmingly written, MATIATIA: GATEWAY TO WAIHEKE includes a rich array of photographs and maps”. (Syndetics summary)

Nation dates : significant events that have shaped the nation of New Zealand / [Wendy McGuinness & Miriam White].
“Nation Dates presents a timeline of 440 key events, spanning the years 1770-2011, that have shaped the development of New Zealand as a nation. The Sustainable Future Institute has compiled this timeline as an important record of our nation’s past and a valuable resource for establishing a context for our future”. (Syndetics summary)

Sinai journal : 30 years of Kiwis serving with the Multinational Force and Observers.
“It’s the world’s most successful peace keeping mission – which hardly anyone’s heard of!” So says one of the many New Zealand Defence Force personnel interviewed for Sinai Journal: 30 Years of Kiwis serving with the Multinational Force and Observers. 2012 marked the thirtieth year of New Zealand’s significant contribution to the successful, if not widely known, Multinational Force and Observer (MFO) peace keeping mission in the Sinai, set up in 1982 to monitor the Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel. Working with 11 other countries to preserve a cold peace between two once warring nations, New Zealanders have distinguished themselves at the MFO with their sense of humor and can-do attitude. Sinai Journal documents the adventures of around eighty personnel who have served at the MFO since 1982 through personal anecdotes, essays and some wonderful photos. Contributions of note include those from the two kiwi Force Commanders; Don McIver and Warren Whiting; as well as colourful characters such as former MP and current Carterton Mayor, Ron Mark. This book is a fascinating social history that celebrates both the thirty year milestone and recognises New Zealand’s long standing, unique, contribution to peace in an unpredictable and volatile part of the world”. (Syndetics summary)

We often feature the beautiful coffee table publications that arrive monthly in the New Zealand Collection. So this month at the top of the list (to keep the glossy books company) are a few of the more functional titles that also arrive each month. These are the ones that aid the scholars and the researchers find the piece of information they need for their project, studies or work.

The Auckland University Press anthology of New Zealand literature / edited by Jane Stafford and Mark Williams.
“From Polynesian Mythology to the Yates’ Garden Guide, from Allen Curnow to Alice Tawhai, from Jessie Mackay to Alison Wong, from Julius Vogel to Albert Wendt, from the letters of Wiremu Te Rangikaheke to the notebooks of Katherine Mansfield – Māori, Pākehā, Pasifika, and Asian New Zealanders have struggled for two and a half centuries to work the English language into some sort of truth about this place. The Auckland University Press Anthology of New Zealand Literature brings together for the first time in one volume this country’s major writing, from the earliest records of exploration and encounter to the globalised, multicultural present”. (Publisher information).

Construction law legislation.
This convenient legislation book, Construction Law Legislation is current as at 1 June 2012, and includes the necessary statutory material for your ease of reference in practice or study.

Counselling and the law : a New Zealand guide / Robert Ludbrook for the New Zealand Association of Counsellors, Te Rōpū Kaiwhiriwhiri o Aotearoa.
“A comprehensive resource for counsellors that covers all aspects of NZ law that affects counsellors and their clients. It covers: 1) General issues affecting counsellors ; 2) Specialists counsellors ; 3) Employment ; 4) Official agencies: their functions, powers and remedies”–Publisher information.

Kiwi prefab : cottage to cutting edge : prefabricated housing in New Zealand / Pamela Bell & Mark Southcombe.
“Until recently New Zealanders thought of prefabs as drab, cheap, temporary, poorly designed school classrooms. Prefab houses tended to be thought of as cheap, small, relocatable, standard homes. However, today’s prefab home is design rich, high-quality, and readily customised to individual sites and needs. It is likely to be state of the art, an innovative blend of architecture, design, manufacturing and construction. This book documents and contextualises a history of kiwi prefabrication, our prefab architecture, its present state, some prefab characters and characteristics, and emerging and possible prefab futures”. (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Christchurch crimes, 1850-75 : scandal & skulduggery in port & town / Geoffrey W. Rice.
“While researching nineteenth-century Christchurch newspapers for another book, historian Geoff Rice was struck by the diversity of crime in early Christchurch, and the amount of detail in the court reports. Fascinated by what he was reading, he became diverted from the task at hand and set about writing this book instead: about crime and punishment in the first 25 years of Canterbury settlement. The stories are drawn from newspaper reports, with further detail added from police records and the court minute books”. (Adapted from back cover).

William Colenso : printer, missionary, botanist, explorer, politician : his life and journeys / by A.G. Bagnall and G.C. Petersen ; [edited by Ian St George].
“Colenso, a Church Missionary Society missionary, printer and botanist, established the first printing press in New Zealand and printed the first book, 5000 copies of the New Testament in Māori, in 1837. He also printed the Treaty of Waitangi. His Authentic and genuine history of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (1890) is regarded as the most reliable European account from the time. Throughout his life, he defended the rights and equality of Māori. Posted to Hawke’s Bay and determined to expand the activities of the mission, Colenso undertook major journeys to reach isolated Māori villages on the east coast of the North Island and inland, including over the Ruahines. An extra-marital relationship brought an end to his career in the church and for a time he became a politician, intensely involved in public life. But science called once more and in his later years much time was given to botanising”. (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Diplomatic ladies : New Zealand’s unsung envoys / Joanna Woods.
“This book tells the inside story of New Zealands diplomatic wives and daughters over a hundred years of diplomacy. Based on private letters, MFAT archives and personal interviews, it records many unknown episodes in New Zealands diplomatic history, including the part played by the spouses in Baghdad during the first Gulf War, and the perils faced by diplomatic wives in Saigon and Tehran. It also gives a unique insight into the workings of diplomatic life and the role of the diplomatic hostess”. (Syndetics summary)

The New Zealand Hobbit crisis : how Warner Bros. bent a government to its will and crushed an attempt to unionize The hobbit / Jonathan Handel ; with Pip Bulbeck.
“All was not well in Middle-earth . . .After the third Lord of the Rings movie premiered in 2003, fans of the series eagerly anticipated production and release of its prequel, The Hobbit. It turned out they had a while to wait, as a series of troubles delayed production for years.Then, in September 2010, when almost everything seemed resolved, U.S. and international actors unions issued a pub-lic alert advising their members “not to accept work on this non-union production.” Warner Bros. threatened to rip the troubled production from the country and events quickly spiraled out of control. New Zealand plunged into crisis. Saving the Hobbit was do or die for the local film industry, and the government scrambled to avoid disaster. Director Peter Jackson vowed to “fight like hell” to keep the shoot in New Zealand. But then studio executives flew in from Los Angeles like colonial masters ready to bring down the hammer. This short book (70 pp. plus bibliography, etc.) tells the tale”.(adapted from Syndetics summary)

Monday 21th January is Wellington Anniversary Day, and there is more to it than just a day off for us Wellingtonians!

If you’re interested in reading or seeing more, come check out our Early Wellington display of books and images on the 2nd floor of the Central Library.

So, what is Wellington Anniversary Day?

• An anniversary day commemorates the founding of a province or an early settlement event.
• The first New Zealand Company immigrant ship, the Aurora, arrived 22nd January 1840.
• The first settlement celebration was held on 22nd January 1841.
• Wellington Anniversary Day is the Monday that falls closest to the 22nd of January.

Read about the very first Wellington Anniversary celebrations:

• Article from the New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, 30 January 1841: Celebration of the Arrival of the First Settlers (Papers Past)
• Early colonial society through a prism: reflections on Wellington’s first anniversary day by B. R. Patterson, published by Wellington Historical and Early Settlers’ Association (NZ).

Names for Wellington:

• Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui – The head of Māui’s fish.
• Te Whanganui a Tara – The great harbour of Tara.
• The first European settlement, Britannia, was where Petone is now situated.
• Popular choice for a new name was Durham. In England, Durham’s name comes from the Old English “dun”=hill and the Old Norse “holme”=island.
• Finally in 1840 the name Wellington was chosen to honour the Duke of Wellington, who was a strong supporter of the New Zealand Company.

Wellington Heritage Trails:

(PDFs of some of these are available on the Wellington City Council website)

• Heritage trail: Te ara o nga tupuna = The path of our ancestors
• Heritage trail: Petone, Hutt City
• Heritage trail: old shoreline, Wellington City
• Heritage trail: maritime Wellington City
• Heritage trail: Thorndon: power, passion, prose & piety.
• Heritage trail: Aro Valley: cottages, crannies & curiosities.
• Heritage trail: northern suburbs, Wellington City
• Heritage trail: Karori, Wellington City

Books of interest:

• A guide to Wellington’s Maori history: nga korero mua o te upoko o te ika
• Te Whanganui-a-Tara: the story of Wellington Harbour
• Wellington Harbour; a heritage of Tara
• Britannia by the river
• Early Wellington
• Wellington: history, heritage & culture
• Old Wellington in colour: from hundred-year-old picture postcards
• Wellington: biography of a city
• Colonial capital: Wellington, 1865-1910
• Wellington at work in the 1890s
• Heritagelink: the official magazine of the Wellington Historical & Early Settlers Assn.

There are some amazing Christmas picture books around, but one thing you really notice looking at many, is how cold they make you feel! The stories they tell are often those of a Northern Hemisphere Christmas.

I remember reading wonderful, chilly Christmas books as a child — like Shirley Hughes’ Lucy and Tom’s Christmas — and not being confused by this at all (I think the thing I appreciated most about Lucy and Tom’s Christmas were the amazing illustrations — Shirley Hughes! — of all the presents they made for their family), but around this time of year, it’s always nice to pull out and enjoy Christmas books that are set in New Zealand, written by New Zealand authors, and written specifically with a New Zealand audience in mind — featuring beaches and barbecues and complete with sweltering, overdressed Santas. So, here goes with a list!

A pukeko in a ponga tree (the twelve days of Christmas) / adapted by Kingi M. Ihaka ; illustrated by Dick Frizzell.
“A New Zealand adaptation of the traditional Christmas song, featuring such gifts as four huhu grubs, seven eels a swimming, and a pukeko in a ponga tree” (Library Catalogue)

We say: On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me, a pukeko in a ponga tree! This is such an iconic title, with great illustrations to enjoy with your child!

A kiwi night before Christmas / Yvonne Morrison ; Deborah Hinde.
“A retelling of Moore’s Christmas poem, with a New Zealand twist.”

We say: This one is also available with sturdier, board pages to share with younger children.

The Christmas caravan / Jennifer Beck ; [illustrations by] Robyn Belton.
“Children’s Christmas story about a boy called Simon who decides to decorate the caravan he and mother share and enter it in a competition for the best decorated home. The other residents of the caravan park contribute by tidying the grounds and recycling rubbish into useful adornments. Text illustrated by Robyn Belton who also illustrated, author, Jennifer Beck’s award-winning, ‘The Bantam and the Soldier’.” (Syndetics summary)

We say: Short-listed for the NZ Post Book Awards in 2003, and we think you’ll enjoy it as much as we did!

A Kiwi jingle bells / Yvonne Morrison ; Deborah Hinde.
“A New Zealand version of Jingle bells describing a summer Christmas holiday at the beach” (Library Catalogue)

We say: Lots of fun to sing along with!

A Kiwi Christmas carol / words by Chris Gurney ; pictures by Philip Webb.
“The story of Dickens’ A Christmas carol retold with a New Zealand twist.” (Library Catalogue)

The elves and the cloakmaker / words by Chris Gurney ; pictures by John Bennett.
“A Kiwi retelling of the traditional story of The elves and the shoemaker. In this case the cloakmaker Kahu and his wife are weaving cloaks and fall asleep and the Patupaiarehe come in the night to finish them off.”

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth / [words and music by] Don Gardner ; illustrated by Katz Cowley.
“Poor Monkey’s two front teeth are missing! The Tooth Detective is on the case, but maybe Santa can help. Will Monkey get his special Christmas wish?”–Back cover.

We say: From the author of The Wonky Donkey — need we say more?

Grandma McGarvey’s Christmas / story by Jenny Hessell ; illustrated by Trevor Pye.
“Grandma McGarvey sets up camp in the caravan park on Christmas Eve, but she hears Santa can’t make it this year – he’s sick in bed. Usually Grandma McGarvey would step in, but this year she’s got her own Christmas party to run. She goes back to her caravan, changes into her dressing gown and sleeping cap and gets ready for her Christmas Eve feast. But the flames from the Christmas Pudding scare the dog, who hides up a tree! While rescuing the dog she stumbles upon the families of the camping ground, who are having a party outdoors. Dressed as she is in her red dressing gown and cap, the children mistake her for Santa! So Grandma and the dog decide to stay and join the party” (Publisher description)

Can you think of more? We’d love to add titles we’ve missed in, so comment and let us know!

The New Zealand Collection has some fascinating new arrivals this month and includes some beautifully illustrated books. Leading the way is the new edition of Buller’s Birds of New Zealand. There is also the story of Moa, a celebration of New Zealanders who dared to dream and a boxing scrapbook about the sport of boxing in New Zealand. In Born to a Changing World the experience of childbirth in nineteenth century New Zealand is narrated from letters and diaries.

Buller’s birds of New Zealand : the complete work of J.G. Keulemans / [text by] Geoff Norman.
“A complete, all-new edition of the classic 19th century ornithological paintings of John Gerrard Keulemans for Walter Buller’s iconic A History of the Birds of New Zealand, featuring fresh reproductions of original watercolour paintings. Each exquisite bird image is accompanied by Buller’s descriptive text as well as up-to-date taxonomic information in English and Te reo Māori. This edition makes available the masterpieces inside the rarely seen, and highly valued, original books”–Publisher information.

Moa : the life and death of New Zealand’s legendary bird / Quinn Berentson.
“The moa were the most unusual and unique family of birds that ever lived, a clan of feathered monsters that developed in isolation for many, many millions of years. They became extinct reasonably quickly after the arrival of the Maori, and were a distant memory by the time European explorers arrived. So the discovery and identification of their bones in the 1840s was a worldwide sensation, claimed by many to be the zoological find of the century. This book begins by recounting the story of discovery, which was characterised by an unbelievable amount of controversy and intrigue. Since then there has been an unbroken chain of new discoveries, culminating with intriguing revelations in recent years about the moa’s biology, that have come to light through DNA testing and radio-dating. This is a fascinating and important book that richly recounts the life and death of our strangest bird. Packed with a fantastic range of illustrations, MOA fills an important gap in our natural history literature, a popular but serious book on this national icon”. (Syndetics summary)

Born to a changing world : childbirth in nineteenth-century New Zealand / Alison Clarke.
“Emerging from diaries, letters and memoirs, the voices of this remarkable book tell a new story of life arriving amidst a turbulent world. Before the Plunket Society, before antibiotics, before ’safe’ Caesarean sections and registered midwives, nineteenth century birthing practice in New Zealand was typically determined by culture, not nature or the state. Alison Clarke works from the heart of this practice, presenting a history balanced in its coverage of social and medical contexts. Connecting these contexts provides new insights into the same debates on childhood – from infant feeding to maternity care – that persist today. Tracing the experiences of Māori and Pākehā birth ways, this richly illustrated story remains centered throughout on birthing women, their babies and families”–Publisher information.

The New Zealand boxing scrapbook / Dave Cameron with Paul Lewis.
“From the 1800s to the second decade of the new millennium, New Zealand boxers have made a mark on the national and international stages – from the days of Bob Fitzsimmons and ‘Torpedo’ Billy Murphy through to David Tua’s quest for a world title today. The New Zealand Boxing Scrapbook offers an insight into ‘the sweet science’ of boxing and the men involved. A collection of boxing history, memorabilia and artefacts”–Publisher information.

OnSong : stories behind New Zealand’s pop classics / Simon Sweetman.
“On Song is a lively journey through New Zealand’s diverse pop landscape. Prolific music journalist Simon Sweetman has interviewed the writers and performers of beloved Kiwi classics, presenting ‘in conversation’ text that illuminates the fascinating stories behind the pop songs we all know and love, all complemented with a plethora of artists’ personal imagery and archival photography”–Publisher information.

The power of us : New Zealanders who dare to dream / foreword by Sir Ray Avery ; words by Cameron Bennett ; photographs by Adrian Malloch.
“Describes 50 New Zealanders who are extraordinary in their own fields, both locally and internationally, drawn from all fields – science, business, writing, film, sport, art, technology. It includes both the very well-known, such as Sam Neill, Rhys Darby, Barbara Kendall, Neil Finn and Susan Devoy, and the lesser known”–Publisher information.

Secrets & treasures : our stories told through the objects at Archives New Zealand / Ray Waru.
“Delves into the archives to tell a very human story of New Zealand, a story that involves love, death, war, immigration, disaster, protest, defiance, censorship and hokey pokey”–Back cover.

New Zealand tattoo : in the home of the tattooist’s art / Chris Hoult ; text by Steve Forbes
“We have tattooing in the blood in New Zealand, and styles worn with pride here in Aotearoa are appreciated worldwide by admirers of beautiful design. And in the early 2010s, tattooing is going through a renaissance. Chris Hoult immersed himself in the Kiwi tattoo scene from 2011 and 2012, and brought writer-musician Steve Forbes along for the ride.What they record in New Zealand Tattoo is the view from the studios of New Zealand now, with profiles of leading tattoists including Merv O’Connor, Gordon Hatfield, Monique Mataga, Jason Parkinson and Te Rangitu Netana. Combining stunning photography and snappy text, New Zealand Tattoo is a contemporary celebration of tattooing here in its three rich tradiions: Ta Moko (Maori tattoo), Tatau (Pacific Islands tattoo) and Tattoo (European and Asian forms).” (Syndetics summary)

The NZ Pacific Picture Book Collection and website have been put together as an educational resource featuring activities and links to the NZ school curriculum. The creators selected the titles from nominations collected from nine librarians who have a specific interest in Pasifika communities. They believe in the power of picture books to shine a light on world views to both validate and introduce culture to others.

Here is a selection of some of the books from the collection held by Wellington Libraries.

Tulevai and the sea / by Joy Cowley ; illustrated by Manu Smith.
“A story for young readers with full-page colour illustrations by Manu Smith. Tulevai is such a good fisher from his canoe, the sea decides to make him its slave, and captures him. However, Tulevai’s mother decides her love is stronger than all the power of the sea, and rescues him by rolling the sea aside.” (Syndetics summary)

Legends of the Cook Islands / Shona Hopkins ; illustrated by Bruce Potter.
Collection of eight illustrated legends from the Cook Islands. Set in a mythological time known as Avaiki, these stories tell of brave men and women, mystical mountains, powerful gods and majestic sea creatures. Suggested level: primary, intermediate.

The Shark God / story by Rafe Martin ; pictures by David Shannon.
“Because they freed a shark caught in a net, the fearsome Shark God rescues a brother and sister from the cruel king’s imprisonment and helps them find a new, peaceful kingdom across the sea.” (Syndetics summary)

Grandad / Janet Pereira ; illustrated by Bruce Potter.
A young girl relates how her family respond to her grandfather’s illness and death and bring to the funeral responses from a variety of cultures. Includes a glossary of words related to death and funerals. Suggested level: primary.

Tane steals the show / [text] Lino Nelisi ; [illustrations] Gus Hunter.
Uncle Kokela is getting married on Saturday and everyone is practising singing and dancing. Because Tane is too small, no one will let him join in. But Tane has a surprise for them. Suggested level: junior.

Two cans of corned beef and a manulele in a mango tree : a Pacific Christmas / Sarona Aiono-losefa ; illustrated by Steven Dunn.
A Pacific version of the popular Christmas song “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, with such gifts as four rolls of tapa, three frangipanis, two cans of corned beef and a manulele in a mango tree. Suggested level: junior, primary.

The stuck there forever boat / Gillian Torckler ; illustrated by Bruce Potter.
Tama’s idyllic island life is changing. The surrounding sea is slowly flooding their land, the coral is dying and the fish have disappeared. Tama’s family must move to a higher island, but his nanny won’t listen. What can Tama do to convince his nanny to leave? A story inspired by the Tuvaluan people, whose low-lying island nation is under threat of non-existence due to the rising seas associated with global warming.

Sione’s talo / by Lino Nelisi ; illustrated by Elspeth Williamson.
Sione finds a huge talo growing on his plantation and calls his family to help him pull it up, but they are only successful with the help of an ant. Suggested level: juniors

Papa’s jandals / Kate Moetaua ; illustrated by Bruce Potter.
“Papa loves his great big jandals but so does Junior. When Junior loses Papa’s jandals the hunt is on to find them but no one would ever have guessed where they turn up”–Back cover. Suggested level: junior.

Talia / by Catherine Hannken ; illustrated by Trish Bowles.
Talia’s dad is taking her to Samoa to meet her family and she is excited, but her excitement quickly turns to confusion when she steps off the plane. She can’t understand what anyone is saying and she feels scared and alone. With help from her family, Talia begins to forget her fear and shyness and enjoy being in Samoa. Suggested level: junior.

A book of Pacific lullabies / edited by Tessa Duder ; illustrated by Anton Petrov.
Collection of poems for children inspired by the natural images and rhythms of the Pacific on the themes of night and sleep. Contains brief biographical information about each of the contributing authors. Suggested level: junior, primary.

Fishing with spider webs / Lino Nelisi ; illustrations by! Elspeth Alix Batt.
“A story for children with full-page colour illustrations. Aiani was born in Auckland. When she is 10, she flies to Nuie to visit her family. Uncle Tuki takes her out fishing, using spider webs! They get a good feed of fish. Next day they’re going to catch a coconut crab without being bitten.” (Syndetics summary)

The pipi swing / Sarona Aiono-Iosefa ; illustrated by Bruce Potter.
A story of a Samoan girl whose grandparents teach her how to have fun again after her father, their son dies, in spite of their own grief. Suggested level: junior, primary.