New Zealand/Aotearoa Recent Picks

December 2006

Click on the underlined title links to check the item's availability in our catalogue.
Some featured items are linked via a book cover to enable you to read more reviews.

1001 best things to see and do in New Zealand by Peter Janssen.
"Visiting New Zealand? Embarking on a road trip? Want to know where to send the visiting rellies? 1001 Best Things To See and Do in New Zealand should be your travel bible. It includes both the obvious places to visit - Sky Tower, Whakarewarewa, Te Papa, Larnach's Castle - and the quirky and not-so-well-known things to see and do - the world's largest totara tree, Wairoa Maori Film Festival, Foxton Windmill, Castlepoint Races. Tourists, nature lovers, history enthusiasts and even armchair travellers will discover hours of pleasurable reading in this compendium of the famous and not-so-famous. Pop a copy in your glove box." (Synopsis, Amazon.co.uk)

Standing upright here : New Zealand in the nuclear age 1945-1990 by Malcolm Templeton.
"The events described in this book span the most of the period, from the end of the Second World War until close to the end of the century, when New Zealand began to think for itself, and stand on its own two feet as an independent nation. It follows an important and, as it must in a democracy such as ours, the expression of the popular will. The story begins with post-War investigations of possible peaceful uses of nuclear technology in New Zealand, and proceeds through many of the issues that have galvanised society - US and British nuclear tests in the Pacific, confrontations with France, the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, nuclear-powered ships visits and ANZUS, the Nuclear Free legislation." (Back cover)

A journey through New Zealand film by Ian Brodie.
"This is a movie-themed travel book featuring the locations of major motion pictures filmed in New Zealand, illustrated by Ian's own photographs along with movie stills and posters. The book features interviews with directors (Peter Jackson, Andrew Adamson, Roger Donaldson, Jane Campion, Gaylene Preston) and movie stars who came to New Zealand to film, with an introduction by Roger Donaldson. Ian has traveled to each of the major locations and while the emphasis is less on listing accommodation and local tourism operators, it showcases the wealth of scenic locations available in New Zealand and highlights other opportunities for visitors following the movie trail." (Synopsis, Amazon.co.uk)

Crown Lynn : a New Zealand icon, by Valerie Ringer Monk ; photography, Studio La Gonda.
"In the late 1930s Tom Clark, barely in his early 20s, began making porcelain titles and electrical fittings alongside his family's brick and pipe works in New Lynn. By 1970 Crown Lynn was the biggest pottery in the southern hemisphere, with 500 staff turning out 15 million pieces of china - cups and saucers, plates, bowls, mugs, jugs and vases - each year. Most New Zealand families used Crown Lynn dinner sets every day, and excess production was exported, mainly to Australia, Canada and the Pacific Islands. Then in the 1980s changing economic conditions undermined profitability and the factory was shut down in 1989. Crown Lynn is enriched by detailed research, including interviews with the late Sir Tom Clark and many other Crown Lynn staff. It has more than 100 photographs of Crown Lynn products, a comprehensive timeline and an illustrated catalogue of backstamps." (Back cover)

New Zealand disasters : earthquakes, eruptions, wrecks and fires : events that rocked the nation by Nicola McCloy.
"Earthquakes, volcanoes, shipwrecks, landslides, mining accidents and wild weather. This book looks at many of the tragedies that have affected New Zealanders, from the Wellington/Wairarapa earthquake of 1855 to the Manawatu floods of 2004, from the wreck of HMS Orpheus in 1863 to the Wahine and Mt Erebus. These events rocked the nation - but also highlighted the resilience and strength of the human spirit, as New Zealanders have always shown a willingness to get involved and help others when disaster strikes. Richly illustrated with powerful images of adversity and people working for the common good, New Zealand Disasters tell the story of these events." (Back cover)

Polish Kiwis : pictures from an exhibition edited by Alina Suchanski.
"May 2005 marked the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. To commemorate this historic event The Polish Association in Christchurch and Canterbury Museum organised an exhibition titled "Polish Kiwis". The exhibition was a collection of stories, photographs and artefacts from the Polish survivors of World War II now living in New Zealand. This book is an extension of the "Polish Kiwis" display. It contains materials that were on display at the exhibition and aims to preserve them for generations to come." (Back cover)

Click! : portraits of New Zealanders by Reg Graham.
"Reg Graham is well-known for his photographs of people involved in the arts: those who have, in their own way, influenced the cultural life of New Zealand. In Click! Graham captures the essence of over ninety of the most intriguing and compelling artistic personalities of the last decade." (Back cover)

Map New Zealand : 100 magnificent maps from the collection of the Alexander Turnbull Library
"The cartographic collection of the Alexander Turnball Library holds over 60,000 maps of interest to New Zealanders, and those of its three main islands and smaller offshore outliers tell the story of this country in a colourful and unique way. Map New Zealand brings together 100 maps from the collection that bear witness to the preoccupations of the times in which they were produced. From exploration charts to maps published to promote tourism, from maps made during periods of conflict between Maori and the British to early motoring guides, they are valuable relics of an era as well as beautiful and unusual objects that anchor and illuminate our history." (Book jacket)

The New Zealand bed and breakfast book 2007
"New Zealand's most popular B&B guide. The 2007 editions contains nearly 1400 places to stay throughout beautiful New Zealand. It is not just an accommodation guide, it is an introduction to a uniquely New Zealand holiday experience." (Synopsis, Amazon.co.uk)

Previous New Zealand Recent picks edition

Check your card I New fiction, DVD and cd lists I How to place a reserve I Borrowing I Contact us