There’s no denying personality Paul Henry has a knack for grabbing headlines and stirring controversy, but he also has a knack for being interesting. And funny – let’s not forget funny. Oh yes, I know it is not considered politically correct to giggle like a schoolgirl at foreign names and hirsute sheilas, but I’m not […]
■ REVIEW: What Was I Thinking
New insights but no juicy gossip Read Post »
Like much of our country, Wanaka is an incredibly photogenic town, with the lake and the light combining to create a natural masterpiece. It could be said that Gilbert van Reenen had a pretty easy task, putting together a book of photos of Wanaka because it would be pretty difficult to take a bad shot
■ REVIEW: The Nature of Wanaka
Stunning view of natural masterpiece Read Post »
The title of the book 25 Years of Edendale Vintage Machinery Club might not grab the immediate interest of the average punter but when you realise that this is a history of the popular annual Crank-Up at Edendale, you might find you interest growing. The 2011 Crank-Up in January was the 25th to be held
■ REVIEW: 25 Years of Edendale Vintage Machinery Club
Cranking it up Read Post »
Southland might not be as big, or as flash, or even as cosmopolitan as some other provinces but our lovely little green corner of the world is a pretty awesome place. And no one knows this better than the author Lloyd Esler: teacher, historian, tour guide and proud Southlander. Esler knows a thing or two
■ REVIEW: The Southland Book of Records
Did you know … Read Post »
New Zealand Truth was a force to be reckoned with in its hey-day, breaking the juiciest of stories and keeping the dodgy and depraved quaking in their boots. I suppose there is a whole generation of young Kiwis who aren’t aware New Zealand once had a stroppy wee tabloid newspaper, delivering a weekly dose of
■ REVIEW: Truth: The Rise and Fall of the People’s Paper
A fascinating insight Read Post »
Packed with photographs of stunning artwork, New Zealand Gallery is a portfolio of this country’s creativity. However, the book is more than just amazing images: Denis Robinson has included interviews interviews with artists working in a wide range of areas, such as contemporary fibre art, wood sculpture, ceramics and glass. This showcase of talent highlights
■ REVIEW: New Zealand Gallery
Photogenic NZ on show Read Post »
No matter what era you are from or what genre of music floats your boat this book will blow you away. Covering 50 years of concerts in New Zealand, this is an incredibly in-depth history of live music in New Zealand. Sure, not every concert is covered and I’m sure any of us could offer
■ REVIEW: Live Gigs that Rocked New Zealand
Colour me jealous Read Post »
We might not have the rich cultural traditions of some of the older countries out there but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a culture of our own. We don’t have blokes wearing big fluffy hats prancing about the show outside a palace, we don’t have blokes in tartan skirts flinging their bits and we
■ REVIEW: 100 NZ Pop Culture Stories
A walk down a Kiwi memory lane Read Post »
Given the number of Kiwis who visit our No 1 auction site on a daily basis, it’s no surprise this book has been written. Forget about eBay, it hasn’t been able to get a foothold here in New Zealand – Trade Me got there first and is here to stay. Sure, every now and then
■ REVIEWS: The Inside Story | Handbags & Hovercrafts
Trade Me in print Read Post »
He’s a busy bloke Joe Bennett, managing to churn out a great newspaper column each and every week, punctuated by some of the quirkiest travel writing you could hope to find. This time around the target of his interest is Dubai, the modern marvel that matches Middle East traditions with modern wealth. He says of
■ REVIEW: Hello Dubai
Does Dubai live up to the hype? Read Post »
