A century and a half ago, a young German man set sail on a four-month journey on the Swedish ship the Equator to begin a new life in New Zealand. Friedrich Krull arrived in New Zealand as the country was heading for the New Zealand wars. Krull was keen to experience the traditional Maori way […]
■ REVIEW: An Indescribable Beauty
European take on young NZ Read Post »
In the first book in her “Wicked Approach to” series, author Sarah-Kate Lynch tackles the tricky subject of happiness. Life can be a bit of a roller-coaster and while most of us dream of finding Mr or Mrs Right, winning the lottery, developing a super power or some other form of excitement, it’s a safe
■ REVIEW: Screw You Dolores
Lynch delivers a fresh approach to happiness Read Post »
This latest book by British doctor and science writer Ben Goldacre takes an often uncomfortably close look at what is happening in the global pharmaceutical industry. I’m not anti-medication by any means – without the heart, blood pressure and diabetes drugs I swallow every day I have no doubt I wouldn’t be feeling anywhere near
■ REVIEW: Bad Pharma
Drug companies’ tactics in spotlight Read Post »
Intergenerational histories are treasures for local communities, telling the stories of the people who built the present. In this case the focus is on a farming enterprise, down and across five generations based primarily at Pukerau-Kaiwera-Waipahi, though also touching on Central Otago. The founding matriarch, Otago immigrant Irishwoman Alicia McKenna, had a hard and tragic
■ REVIEW: Carse Head & Crichton Park Farms
Farmers’ heritage: gritty determination Read Post »
It was a case that shocked everyone on both sides of the world: Malcolm Webster was convicted of murdering one wife in Scotland and trying to kill a second wife in New Zealand. Award-winning journalist Charles Lavery has followed the case closely and in The Black Widower he examines the crimes of this callous and
■ REVIEW: The Black Widower
Killer’s web of deceit ably described Read Post »
It’s been called the forgotten war, but for the New Zealanders who served in the Korean War during the 1950s, and their families, it hasn’t been forgotten. Forty-five Kiwis died during that conflict in a land many knew nothing about, in a war most didn’t understand. And still, decades later, it is a Cold War
Museums are interesting places and it is the natural history collections that are often the most interesting. Author Brian Gill has taken on the task of telling the stories of 15 intriguing objects in New Zealand museums: how they got there, why they are of interest and their impact. He has done a fantastic job,
■ REVIEW: The Owl that Fell from the Sky
Behind the scenes at museums Read Post »
We have all had our moments where we have thought “this could be the life”. You may have stood in a paddock or an orchard, the sun streaming down, looking at a view that people pay to see and thought, “yes, I could do this”. In reality, few take that idyllic lifestyle plunge . .
■ REVIEW: Moon Over Martinborough
How an American city boy became a Kiwi farmer Read Post »
This is the sequel to New Zealander Helen Brown’s lovely bestseller Cleo, which told the story of the death of Helen’s young son Sam and how the arrival of a small kitten into the Brown household helped a grieving family move on. Cleo was a book that simply captured the hearts of readers around the
■ REVIEW: After Cleo Came Jonah
The cat that captured a heart Read Post »
With programmes such as Bones and CSI, we all feel familiar with the inner workings of the forensic side of police investigations, but the real thing is somewhat different. Expert Witness is an insight into the work of a real forensic scientist and, unlike the television versions, these don’t involve wearing high heels and fancy
■ REVIEW: Expert Witness
Behind the scenes with a real forensic scientist Read Post »
