History > New Zealand & Pacific History

Tales of hardihood and endurance in one of New Zealand's wildest places. First published 2001; this 2nd edition 2006.

See other record - 9780908988372 The wreck in 1866 of the General Grant in the desolate sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands is one of the world's great nautical mysteries, a story that still tantalises and thrills. When the ship was crushed in a cave beneath a sheer cliff face, a few crew members and a handful of passengers managed to escape in a lifeboat. For more than two years they lived a hand-to-mouth existence on a nearby island before they were rescued. This story is extraordinary in itself, but soon compelling legends sprea... read more

When Europeans landed in New Zealand in the nineteenth century, they brought with them a culture that had been shaped over thousands of years - a culture that determined their values and attitudes, their food and dwellings, their occupations and recreation. In the crates and portmanteaus carried off the ships were the material trappings of that culture. While many excellent general histories begin with the arrival of Maori and Europeans in New Zealand, this epic and fascinating book goes back to the beginning to address some fundam... read more

Compiled from two rich sources: illustrations from four beautifully produced posters that came out in 1895 as supplements to the New Zealand Times, and supporting text from the 1897 Cyclopedia of New Zealand. The result is a colourful account of late Victorian life in Wellington. Dop May 2009, Wellington 276mmx210mm/48pp hardcover

Maori form a significant proportion of the modern New Zealand Army, and Maori officers have achieved the very highest commands, their unique culture is deeply embedded in its tradition and daily routines; celebrated by Maori (indigenous) and pakeha (non-indigenous) soldiers alike. The exploits of the 28th (Maori) Battalion in WWll - peerless in attack - are well-remembered. Not so well known is the major Maori contribution to the Allied cause in the Great War. Maori were quick to respond in 1914. Over five times as many as the spec... read more

"Take-Off: The Helicopters (NZ)Story" is full of interesting stories and exciting happenings, from Antarctica to Laos, from New Zealand to Australia. Over 200 superb photos capture many aspects of helicopter work as well as showing them in many challenges, situations and stunning landscapes. Hardback, jacketed, 224 pages, size: 248 x 248 mm First published November 2006.

This richly illustrated book presents a comprehensive assessment of the display of Maori culture from the 19th Century to today. In doing so, Exhibiting Maori: A History of Colonial Cultures of Display traces the long journey from curio to specimen, artefact, art and taonga (treasure). Drawing on extensive and groundbreaking research, Exhibiting Maori reveals for the first time the remarkable story of Maori resistance to, involvement in, and eventual capture of the display of their culture. Ranging across museums, world fairs, fin... read more

Reissue These five stylish books introduce fascinating objects from Te Papa

Colonial New Zealand depended on sea transport, every major or aspiring centre had to have a port, hopefully loading cargo on a 'Home boat. This book traces the history of one such port into the twenty-first century. "Today's heritage object is yesterday's developer's dream."

Thinking of writing a history? Or commissioning one? Local historians, church and institutional historians, genealogists, thesis-writers, and the people who commission them will welcome How To Do Local History. It is a brief and lively introduction to historical research, writing and publishing by a leading historian. This book explains how to use books and archives, and is full of practical tips on 'reading' the landscape, on oral history and on using illustrations effectively. The last chapter takes historians and their cli... read more

A sea voyage in the nineteenth century was not for the faint-hearted. The hazards were many and accidents commonplace. Of the ways a ship might meet its end, destruction by fire was perhaps the most feared. Wooden sailing vessels were particularly vulnerable and without breathing apparatus it was next to impossible to fight a fire below decks. The period saw a number of catastrophic shipboard fires, but that involving the New Zealand-bound emigrant ship Cospatrick was certainly the most destructive. When she burned and sank off the... read more

Several Views from New Zealand History In this volume, leading historians reflect on writing about New Zealand's past. They also test how that past is investigated and framed . Their essays tell us much about New Zealand's many pasts and how historians have imagined them, and indicate particular concerns with what the country is now and the current role of history as a discipine within our nation. They ask questions and venture some answers. The introductory essay by the editors surveys the work of historians since the 1980s, w... read more

Perspectives from New Zealand History With the rise of the study of social history in the second half of the twentieth century, the focus of many historians shifted from politics, high culture and foreign policy to new areas, including health, demographics, families, crime, women and immigration. But with this new historical work came a problem that threatened coherence in the field: how to deal with the detail of so many different pasts amongst the people of New Zealand? The editors of this book set out to show that a quantit... read more

Class and Occupation is the first systematic attempt to identify New Zealand's actual occupational structure from 1893 to 1938, using the information gathered by the New Zealand census. The six essays are based on the work of Caversham Project at the University of Otago and cosider how best to code occupations for the whole country and for the regions and localities within it. New light is cast on the social change in New Zealand and significantly, women's participation in the paid non-agricultural workforce. Systematic comparision... read more

New Zealanders have a strong affinity with the land, with firm connections being drawn between the land and cultural identity in the economy, poliitics and art. As 'Tangata Whenua', Maori stress the significance of their relationship with the land. The essays in this book explore these complex relationships from conflict in colonial Bay of Plenty, to inrtermarriage on the Taieri Plain, from protests against hydro-electric dams, to building a hospital in the Himalayas.

Original edition first published 1947; this edition with index (1952 New Zealand Library Association) published September 2009.

The Mosquito Fleet Of Canterbury records an almost forgotten aspect of Canterbury history - the role of sea transport in the development of the province. It explores the range of shipping and shipbuilding activity in early Canterbury and includes ship specifications, chronologies, fleet lists and shipping companies while Bill Huntley's sketches and paintings bring a strongly visual dimension to the text. A4 format First published October 2005.

A powerful examination of the momentous, yet misunderstood decade of tribal, provioncial, national and international conflict whose legacies still underlie political and racial debate. First published November 2005.

How would you feel if you woke one morning to find your partner lying dead beside you, not just still and cold, but their skin turned purple-black?Or if your neighbour’s children came to ask for food because their parents had been ‘asleep’ for two days... read more

In working-class parlance a ‘blue’ was the colloquial term for an industrial disruption – a strike or a lockout. The 1951 waterfront lockout was, up until that time, the biggest ‘blue’ of them all and still holds attention today as a seminal event in New Zealand’s industrial and political history. The 1951 lockout, which lasted for 151 days, was the culmination of events that had their geneses in industrial and political activity stretching back sixty years and helped shape the pattern of industrial... read more