Historian Michael King died in a 2004 car crash but his work continues to have an impact on New Zealand culture.
This revised edition of a book that has already been around for a good few years is still relevant and interesting.
King paints a comprehensive picture of Maori culture and society, from the 1850s to the 1990s.
He has recorded and analysed the changes, both good and bad, during that time in a way that doesn’t just give cold hard facts but also helps us understand the feelings and emotions. No easy task.
Over the years, King received many awards for his works, including an OBE and the inaugural Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in non-fiction.
It’s work like this that highlights just why he was held in such high regard.
His death was a huge loss to both the literary and historic research worlds.\