Annette King: The Authorised Biography by John Harvey; Brent Edwards

$20.00 NZD

Category: Biography | Reading Level: near fine

Annette King is New Zealand's longest-serving women MP - 1984-2017 less three years in the wilderness from 1990-1993. In her 30 years in Parliament, she spent 15 in government (10 as a cabinet minister) and 15 in opposition. She is a former deputy leader of the Labour Party, and held a number of senior cabinet portfolios. This book will take a dual approach to her life and political career. Annette's career embraces a tumultuous time in New Zealand politics and Labour politics . . . Rogernomics and Lange's independent foreign policy; the 1990s and advent of MMP; the refinement of Rogernomics under Ruth Richardson etc; the rise and nearly fall of Helen Clark; the Clark government (where Annette served as Health, Food Safety, Police, Transport, Justice and Racing Minister); the subsequent 9 years of difficult and troubled opposition for Labour; and eventually the rise of Jacinda Ardern. Annette played pivotal roles in all these eras, often as the peacemaker or as Auntie Annette. She became a mentor for many of the prominent members of the Ardern government and, of course, played a lead role in the 2017 election campaign and subsequent negotiations. The book will give rein to Annette's voice, but also feature other prominent figures including Jacinda. The book will open with the 2017 campaign. ...Show more

Whale Oil: One Man’s Fight to Save His Reputation, then His Life by Margie Thomson

$15.00 NZD

Category: New Zealand | Reading Level: very good

In May 2012 Auckland businessman Matt Blomfield found himself the target of a vicious online attack, the work of Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater. The attack came out of the blue, destroying Blomfield’s reputation and career, stealing his identity, turning him into a social outcast. Two years aft er the online attack began an armed gunman came to Blomfield’s house and tried to kill him. He only survived because the intruder’s shotgun misfired. But Matt Blomfield decided to fight back. He spent seven years and many hundreds of thousands of dollars taking a defamation case against Slater, which he ultimately won, establishing that Slater’s vendetta was based entirely on lies. This book is a remarkable piece of investigative writing, a story of courage and tenacity, which reminds us how important it is to stand up to bullies, and to be reassured that in the end they do not always win. ...Show more

The Hunters: The Precarious Lives of New Zealand's Birds of Prey by Debbie Stewart

$25.00 NZD

Category: Natural History | Reading Level: very good

From an extinct giant eagle and an owl that sounded like the devil, to the morepork we hear calling at night, the falcon that appears on our $20 note and the hawks we see swooping on the grisly remains of dead critters on the road, this book takes a close look at these fascinating birds and the people w ho are working to keep the species that are still with us safe. Filled with facts and great stories of rescued birds being nursed back to health, this book also has many amazing close-up photographs. Find out about the ancient art of falconry, how damaged feathers critical for flying can be replaced with temporary ones, how you can help an injured bird, and how birds can be released back into the wild. ...Show more

Kiwi Baker at Home by Dean Brettschneider

$30.00 NZD

Category: Cooking | Reading Level: very good

Internationally recognised as one of the world¿s best bakers, New Zealander Dean Brettschneider defines his baking style as a globally inspired mix of tradition and innovation. In Kiwi Baker at Home, he shares an irresistible collection of his favourite recipes for you to bake at home. In this ne w book you¿ll find easy, casual recipes to cater for every baking occasion ¿ from weekend breakfasts and brunches, sourdough breads and pizzas, to morning teas, lunchbox treats and decadent desserts. Dean also provides expert, step-by-step advice on bread- and pastry-making techniques, all of which make this book an accessible and essential resource for every baker. Kiwi Baker at Home encompasses Dean¿s philosophy on baking: love what you do and do what you love, with no half measures. Happy baking! ...Show more

Awatere: Portrait of a Marlborough Valley by Harry Broad; Jim Tannock (Photographer); Rob Suisted (Photographer); Dave Hansford (Photographer)

$40.00 NZD

Category: Regional | Reading Level: very good

The Awatere is the Marlborough river and valley south of Blenheim. It runs from Molesworth Station in the high country all the way to the sea below the township of Seddon, overlooked by Mt Tapuae-o-Uenuku, the highest peak in the Inland Kaikoura Range. Author Harry Broad¿s interest in this area w as piqued when he was working on his acclaimed and best-selling book Molesworth, and he has followed through with this to produce Awatere. This is a fascinating and extensive collection of stories that document the multi-facetted, changing face of rural New Zealand, and which explores both the people and the landscape of this area. The upper Awatere valley has many well-known, classic high-country stations, such as The Muller, which borders Molesworth. In the lower valley, there are still many conventional pastoral farms, but the huge change has come through the wine industry. Many people do not realise that the Awatere valley is now the second-largest wine sub-region in New Zealand, with three times the production of an area like Central Otago. This mix of farming and wine has given this area its own unique flavour and character, captured both in Harry Broad¿s stories, but also through the stunning images from photographers Jim Tannock, Rob Suisted and Dave Hansford, as well as a range of others. Awatere will be a beautiful and engaging book, a must-read for anyone interested in Marlborough, or rural New Zealand. ...Show more

The Permanent New Zealand Court of Appeal - Essays on the First 50 Years by Rick Bigwood (ed.)

$45.00 NZD

Category: Law | Reading Level: very good

This volume of essays celebrates the first 50 years in the life of the New Zealand Court of Appeal. The move, in 1958, to a Court of Appeal comprising permanent appellate judges was an important landmark in the development of New Zealand law.The chapters highlight areas where the Court of Appeal has mad e a significant contribution to New Zealand and wider Commonwealth law, showing how the Court's jurisprudence has both reflected and contributed to resolving some of the pressing issues of the times.They are a critical reflection on the changing work and achievements of the permanent Court over the past half-century.In addition to recording the perspectives of a former President on the Court's achievements, the essays in this volume deal with such varied topics as: the role and use of precedent by the Court of Appeal; the Court's contribution to Commonwealth administrative law; criminal appeals; relationship property; accident compensation and tort litigation; company law; equity in commercial dealings; and the rights of Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. ...Show more

Helen: Portrait of a Prime Minister by Brian Edwards

$18.00 NZD

Category: Biography | Reading Level: very good

New Zealand's first elected woman Prime Minister remains an enigma to many, despite her almost daily exposure on television. In Helen: Portrait of a Prime Minister, Brian Edwards has produced a comprehensive, balanced and absorbing account of the life, times and character of the real Helen Clark. Wor king largely from taped conversations with the Prime Minister herself, with her family, friends and colleagues, and with a wide range of political journalists and commentators, the author presents a fascinating panorama of anecdote, fact, and opinion on Helen Clark's strengths and weaknesses as a person and a politician. Part oral history, part biography, the narrative follows Clark's life and career from childhood through to the present day. It explains how the daughter of a conservative, National-voting, farming family became a left-wing activist; how she was transformed from a seemingly dry and brittle academic into a popular, media-savvy and charismatic leader; how she moulded a disparate group of factions into a cohesive coalition. Brian Edwards is the author or editor of numerous books, including Right Out, a study of the 1972 General Election, in which he stood as the Labour Party candidate for Miramar. With his wife, Judy Callingham, he runs a media consulting business in Auckland. The couple have provided media advice to Helen Clark since 1996. In 1999 Dr Edwards was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to broadcasting and journalism. Hardback ...Show more

Deadline: My Story by Pat Booth

$25.00 NZD

Category: Biography | Reading Level: very good

Turning the Pages. The Story of Bookselling in New Zealand by Anna Rogers

$25.00 NZD

Category: Books About Books | Reading Level: very good

Walter Buller The Reluctant Conservationist by Ross Galbreath

$30.00 NZD

Category: Biography | Reading Level: very good

Wild Journeys: New Zealand's Fmous & Infamous, historic and off-the beaten-path Journeys, Tracks, Routes & Passages by Bruce Ansley

$25.00 NZD

Category: Travel | Reading Level: very good

In Wild Journeys Bruce Ansley retraces the path of doomed surveyor John Whitcombe across the Southern Alps, follows the raiding party of northern chief Te Puoho along the West Coast, sails around New Zealand's North and South capes, walks through the valley under the Two Thumb Range to mythical Mesopota mia, drives from Waiheke to Wanaka (in a hurry), sets off on a hunt for the South Island's 'Grey Ghost', looks deep into the heart of volcanic New Zealand and tracks the escape route of our most unlikely hero, jail-breaker George Wilder. These are stories about New Zealand, of wild journeys and strange ones, of exhilaration, joy, frailty and fear. ...Show more

Outstanding Scenic Walks of New Zealand. Over 200 Easy Outings by Peter Janssen

$16.00 NZD

Category: Travel | Reading Level: near fine