TWO BOOKS ESPECIALLY VALUABLE FOR VISITORS TO NEW ZEALAND’S NORTH – Note publication 1 September

LANDMARKS OF THE BAY OF ISLANDS – Past & Present
Marios Gavalas – Penguin Books - $45.00

As established guide and outdoors writer Marios Galavos points out in his introduction, The Bay of Islands can rightly claim to be the cradle of European and Maori connection. Within the shores of the fantastically beautiful bay, studded with its complement of serene islands, may of the first interactions between these cultures took place.

In his book, prolifically illustrated with both contemporary and historical photographs, the author describes these early contacts which were often rife with cultural misunderstandings, along with the establishment of the mission stations, the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the Cape Brett lighthouse construction, the whaling station at Whangamumu, the visit in the 1920’s by legendary fisherman Zane Grey and much more.

The Bay of Islands is one of New Zealand’s greatest draw cards, it is up there with Queenstown and Rotorua, and reading this book will greatly enhance the value of any visit.
Glossary, bibliography and index complete an attractive and useful book. There is no acknowledgement given for the beautiful whole page contemporary colour photos so I assume they were taken by the author.

KAURI
Keith Stewart – Viking - $60

This large, lush hardback title is an appropriate tribute to a magnificent tree and its turbulent history.
At first I was somewhat surprised that a book on this subject would be written by Keith Stewart who is well known in New Zealand for his many books and magazine columns on the subject of wine.
However it transpires that his family worked in the Northland bush for 140 years, his generation being the first to be employed elsewhere. And now I come to think of it he has also written extensively on many subjects from art and architecture to roses and beer. In this book he proves to an historian as well and a researcher with an eye for detail.

Illustrated with loads of appealing contemporary colour photographs supplemented by numerous historical illustrations this book is going to be a valuable addition to our knowledge of the great New Zealand tree that once covered 1.2 million hectares but is now reduced to 80,000 hectares today which as Stewart points out has been devastating for NZ’s endemic insect species and native bird life.
Every school and public library in the land will want multiple copies of this book.