I was excited to read the latest Des Hunt offering and was not disappointed. Set on the southwest coast near Wellington, it’s an adventure to do with a shipwreck, the strange animal that survives to come to shore, and those who wish to hunt it down for various reasons. Zac is living with his father […]
■ REVIEW: Phantom of Terawhiti
Solid read for young Kiwis Read Post »
Kiwi screenwriter and author Donna Malane has finally produced her second novel and it was worth the wait. Once again, the main character is missing persons expert Diane Rowe, the stroppy, strong and perfectly flawed heroine of Malane’s debut novel, Surrender. And once again, she finds herself up-close-and-personal with a killer. However, this time the
■ REVIEW: My Brother's Keeper
Long-awaited novel an absolute cracker Read Post »
New Zealanders are rather fond of their huts and this books shows why. Our backcountry huts are so very much a part of the Kiwi outdoors life, with a diverse network of huts spread throughout the country offering varying levels of comfort in some incredibly spectacular settings. These humble structures may not feature the latest
■ REVIEW: Shelter from the Storm
Gimme shelter … Read Post »
Queenstown-based artist Ivan Clarke has produced something special in this hard-cover tribute to Lonely Dog, an orphan hound growing up in Alveridgea, a land where cats and dogs live together but apart. The title character was inspired by Clarke’s family pet, Arthur Snout the dachshund. Legend has it, Clarke did a painting several years ago
Butterflies may appear to be fragile creatures but their ability to colonise the tiny, scattered islands of the vast South Pacific ocean proves they are anything but fragile. From Kiribati, Tuvalu and Fiji in the west, to the far-flung Marquesas and Austral Islands in French Polynesia in the east, this book looks at the butterflies
■ REVIEW: Butterflies of the South Pacific
Butterflies prove resilient travellers 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 »
There has been much written about our long-extinct moa but this book by Dunedin-based writer, domentary film-maker and photographer Quinn Berentson manages to be both comprehensive and accessible. These unusual birds developed in isolation millions of years ago but became extinct fairly quickly after the arrival of the Maori (hope you are listening Gareth Morgan,
I’m a fan of most four, six and even some eight-legged critters so it’s nice to have a book that is so packed with information on the little creepy crawlies lurking in our fair land. This guide covers more than 120 species of what the authors call “minibeasts”, from earthworms and leeches to springtails and
■ REVIEW: Collins Pocket Guide to New Zealand Minibeasts
Leggy ones identified Read Post »
With his taste for sharp suits and powerful motorcycles, Bishop Brian Tamaki has an interestingly polarising effect on the average Kiwi. Let me make it clear before I go any further that I have no particular bias for or against any church – my religious views are my own and I don’t feel the need
