New Zealand/Aotearoa Recent Picks

December 2008

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Dance : The Illustrated History of Dance in New Zealand.
"This gorgeous book presents the broad spectrum of ballet and dance historically in this country - where it has come from, what has influenced the art-form, who has been involved, and who are the present movers and shakers. It's beautiful to look at, with striking photos and ephemera, attractive poster designs, programme covers plus illustrations. There's great information and anecdotes on personalities, plus interesting 'facts' in separate breakout boxes. Its themes include the influence of overseas companies on dance in New Zealand from 1913 to the present; the advent of a national identity with the establishment of the Royal New Zealand Ballet; the emergence of modern dance in the 1930s and the contemporary dance scene today. Each chapter features a discussion on dance styles, the vigour of the artistic personalities involved and the social milieu in which they operated. A very thorough and lively examination of the dance scene in New Zealand". (Random House).

All Dogs Shot: The Photography of Roger Donaldson by Roger Donaldson .
"Roger Donaldson is famous for his movies, which include Sleeping Dogs, Smash Palace, Cadillac Man and The World's Fastest Indian. But before he became a director, he was already a talented photographer, and he has retained his interest in the field. This book contains a selection of his work from 1963 to the present in a beautiful book with high production values. There is a touring exhibition of his work currently making its way around New Zealand galleries and this book is a companion volume and an extension of that exhibition. The photographs come from New Zealand, Cuba, Los Angeles, New York and many others places. They include landscapes, political photographs, humorous shots and social commentary. Every photograph is a stunner. Roger has written brief notes about each image giving some background on where and why they were taken. There is a foreword by Hamish Keith." (Amazon.co.uk).

Pubs with personality : a personal selection of over 150 of New Zealand's best by Peter Janssen & Steve Reid.
"An informative and informal guide to 150 of the most interesting pubs in New Zealand, divided into North and South islands. A companion book to the successful Vineyard Visits, the book has the same design and organization, providing location and pricing guidelines as well as potted histories of the people, places and personalities associated with each of the featured pubs. Competition for selection was fierce, and some tough calls had to be made, but the 150 featured pubs have all been personally checked out by the authors. These are their selections as the best places to stop for a drink, a meal or an interesting stop over for the responsible traveler. From pubs whose histories go back to the days of the goldfields to those which have played important roles in their local communities, the characters and the ratbags are examined and the features that make each one unique are listed". (Global Books in Print).

Alive and Kicking by Joe Bennett.
"Alive: aboveground, animate, animated, breathing, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, capable of life, chipper, conscious, endowed with life, enjoying health, enlivened, eupeptic, existent, fine, fit, fit and fine, full of beans, healthful, healthy, in condition, in fine fettle, in fine whack, in good case, in good health, in good shape, in health, in high feather, in mint condition, in shape, in the flesh, in the pink, inspirited, instinct with life, live, living, long-lived, quick, tenacious of life, very much alive, viable, vital, vivified, zoetic. Kicking: sticking the boot in. Still alive after 11 years and 11 collections of columns, Joe Bennett sticks the boot into Beckhamania, golf umbrellas, beer ads, Hillary Clinton, all sorts of bureaucrats, and a fatso from the Middle East who flies halfway round the world to shoot our deer. But he writes loving stuff, too, about fish and postcards and Pavarotti and butter and dead dogs. From his fastness in Lyttelton, New Zealand¿s best-loved columnist once again dissects the weird, wide and sometimes less than wonderful world with peerless wit and concision." (Global Books).

Charming places to stay in New Zealand by Uli and Brian Newman.
"This, the 11th edition, showcases 600 totally delightful 'Places to Stay' including romantic cottages, sumptuous lodges, bed and breakfasts, boutique accommodation, city apartments, seaside escapes, chic townhouse apartments, small hotels, great farmstays ... and the list goes on. This guide has a unique, easy to use "at-a-glance" Category Symbol System that is loved by travellers, plus, practical travel information translated into German, Japanese and Mandarin. Over 2000 photos and over 500 maps. A5 format, 516 pages". (Global Books).

Painting out the past : the life and art of Patricia France complied by Richard Donald.
"Painting out the Past celebrates the life and work of New Zealand artist, Patricia France (1911-95). Here is an arresting, beautifully illustrated biography that traces the lifetime of this fascinating, remarkable woman. During the late 1920s, Patricia travelled through Europe but struggled to find a place for herself in Auckland society upon her return to New Zealand. After many difficult years she went on to establish herself later in life as a successful painter. Most at home in the company of artists, poets, sculptors and actors, Patricia regularly corresponded with Colin McCahon and Toss Woollaston, exhibited her work with Ralph Hotere and Anna Caselberg, and acted as patron to the many young artists who visited her gracious Highgate home. In her later years she stoically ignored the onset of blindness, and triumphed over her earlier life by 'painting out the past'. Painting out the Past is a comprehensive collection of Patricia France's captivating and impressionistic paintings. It is also illustrated with photographs and includes extracts from the artist's extensive correspondence". (Global Books in Print).

Devil's Own War, The: the First World War Diary of Brigadier-General Herbert Hart by John Crawford.
"Brigadier-General (later Sir) Herbert Hart left New Zealand in 1914 as a major with the Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and returned in 1919 as a much decorated brigadier-general. Initially, Hart served as William Malone's second-in-command in the Wellington Infantry Battalion. He commanded the Wellington Battalion during the closing stages of the Gallipoli campaign, and then served as a battalion and brigade commander on the Western Front between 1916 and 1918. During this time Hart kept a diary, which is now widely regarded as one of the most important personal sources relating to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. His service on the Western Front is the principal focus of the diary. Exceptionally well written, it includes gripping descriptions of both combat and life behind the front line and on leave in France and United Kingdom. Only one diary by a New Zealand battalion or brigade commander has previously been published (William Malone's), and because he was a more senior commander, Hart was involved in and comments on a much wider range of issues than are dealt with in that or any other published New Zealand diary. The publication of this edition of Hart's diary will attract considerable international interest. This important publication will also include an introductory chapter on Hart's early life, and a concluding chapter about his diverse and distinguished career after the war, including his term as Administrator of Western Samoa from 1931 to 1935". (Global Books in Print).

Separate but Equal?: Maori Schools and the Crown, 1867-1969 by John Barrington.
"A system of government primary schools for Maori children created by Parliament in 1867 was regarded as a temporary measure until they learnt English and were Europeanised. But it lasted for 100 years despite criticisms of 'separatism' and 'pampering' of Maori. Official policies for the schools reflected European attitudes towards Maori, including the view that they were particularly suited to a practical, non-academic type of schooling leading to manual and domestic occupations. The policy of assimilation, designed to turn Maori into brown Europeans, was not modified until the 1930s when a cultural renaissance led by Apirana Ngata, combined with influences from anthropology and Britain's African education policies, contributed to a limited form of bi-culturalism". (Global Books in Print).

Buck Shelford: The Man, the Story, the Truth by John Matheson.
"When Buck Shelford was dropped as All Black captain there was a public outcry - bring back Buck - with bumper stickers and posters and graffiti to that effect springing up overnight. The popular, highly respected hard man, famous for playing on through a severe groin injury, impervious to pain because he was the captain and he wouldn't leave his men, Buck Shelford is now regarded as the ultimate All Black. In the light of the disastrous 2007 All Black World Cup campaign, the news that Buck Shelford was battling cancer sent a shudder through the rugby fans who remember him and his courage and skill and strength of leadership. Those qualities will be celebrated in this tribute to one of the greatest, and most loved All Blacks". (Global Books in Print).

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