Summer Reads for Kiwis

Being a kiwi is a pretty great thing.

I count myself fortunate that I live in a country were the water is clean, the air fresh and I'm surrounded by beauty everywhere I look.

I do not have to dodge bullets as I walk the streets or wear a veil from head to foot.

I have the freedom to live where I want, how I want and do (within reason) pretty much what I want; all without the fear that I am going to be thrown into jail or worse, executed.

It's true we have our problems as a country but on the whole we are far luckier than a great many others.  So in celebration of all things kiwi, the little things that make who we are, the quirky, the weird and the wonderful here are just a few books that capture that kiwi essence.

New Zealand weather : captured through the camera lenses of New Zealanders / [Jim Hickey].

"A compilation of New Zealand's distinctive and sometimes wild and dramatic seasonal weather images, with comments and descriptions from the country's longest-serving television weatherman, Jim Hickey." 

The weather seems to hold a fascination for kiwi's, perhaps because it has such a significant impact on our environment and how we live our life's.  My Dad certainly never missed the weather report at the end of the news and seemed to be fascinated by all things weather related.  This would of been the perfect book for him.

The heart of our game : players and personalities in New Zealand rugby / Steve Hale.

"From former and current players to lifelong, one-eyed rugby fans and coaches, The Heart of our Game tells, in modern Kiwi-speak, just what the game of rugby means to us today."

Rugby and New Zealand seem to go hand-in-hand, so much part of our identity that it is.  Even I have taken a half-hearted interest in time to time.  This is one for fans everywhere.

Great kiwi firsts / Astral Sligo.

"Our fern may be silver but we Kiwis love to take that gold medal spot. First to give women the vote, first to climb Mount Everest, first to split the atom. Great Kiwi firsts combines the great, the good and the just plain crazy in a compendium of Kiwi ingenuity and inspiration with just a touch of oddball."

A touch of oddball sounds just like my kind of thing so this book is going on my TBR (To Be Read) pile.

Home & away : award-winning travel stories by New Zealand writers / selected and edited by Graeme Lay.

"Travel is in the Kiwi bloodstream: whether bound for Kaiwaka or Kowloon, we have an insatiable appetite for living out of a suitcase and, in select cases, writing about it. The stories in this anthology span not only every continent but also the homeland, proving you don't have to go far to discover distance."

Kiwi's are some of the great travelers of the world and this book celebrates just a few of those amazing journeys.

Urban chicks : celebrating backyard chooks in the city / Trevor Newman and Renée Lang.

"This publication features a selection of Aucklanders - some well-known, others less so - who have chosen to keep chickens in the suburbs."

I had a chicken when I was little.  She was a black hen and her name was Christine.  She also scared the living daylights out of me, though in hindsight she was probably just as afraid of me as I was of her.  Why I named her Christine I have no idea

The power of us : New Zealander's who dare to dream

"This book is a celebration of 50 New Zealanders who are extraordinary in their own fields, both locally and internationally."

New Zealanders have done amazing things.  Perhaps this sense of adventure and the desire to push ourselves come's from the pioneer spirit of our ancestor's or perhaps it's our isolation from the rest of the world that makes us strive to do the impossible.  Either way, we continue to show the world what you can truly achieve with just a little bit of determination and daredevil spirit.

A fabled land : the story of Canterbury's famous Mesopotamia Station / Bruce Ansley.

"The historic Mesopotamia Station is located in mid-Canterbury at the headwaters of the magnificent Rangitata gorge.  Author Bruce Ansley has brilliantly captured the spirit of this great sheep station: from the early pioneers who first braved its harsh winters and searing summers to the ingenuity and drive of the present-day owners, the Prouting family."

Back to the land : a year of country gardening / Lynda Hallinan

"Gardening guru Lynda Hallinan shares with characteristic wit and good humour a full year of her gardening eploits."

Just as the weather and rugby are a big feature of what makes us kiwi's, so is our love of the land.  Whether it's a spiritual thing or something more basic as the enjoyment of just getting our hands dirty, the land holds something for all of us.

On song : stories behind New Zealand pop classics / Simon Sweetman.

"On Song is a journey through New Zealand's diverse pop landscape. Featuring conversations with the many writers and performers of beloved Kiwi classics that illuminates the fascinating stories behind the pop songs we all know and love."

Counting the beat, Victoria, Rust In My Car - these are the songs of my teenage years.  Foot-tapping, head popping songs that I listened to on my cassette deck (yes before CD's had even been heard of), while driving around with friends on warm summer days, heading to who knows where.  Just thinking about them makes me want to go on a road trip...

Secrets & treasures : our stories told through the objects at Archives New Zealand / Ray Waru.

"The bizarre jostles with the extremely significant in the almost 100 kilometres of holdings in Archives New Zealand. The thousands of boxes contain all sorts of treasures and secrets, including such intriguing items as: a rare letter written by Captain Cook; records of secret weapons; exotic gifts to our Prime Ministers; grisly exhibits from murder trials; sightings of UFOs. This book delves into the archives to tell a very human story of New Zealand."

High Country legacy : four generations of Aspinalls at Mt Aspiring Station / Alex Hedley.

"Mt Aspiring Station is set in the craggy backblocks of Otago, between Lake Wanaka and the Southern Alps. The Aspinall family have farmed in this tough and unforgiving environment — on slopes so steep that horses cannot climb — since 1920."

I can't begin to imagine what it must be like to live in a place like Mt Aspiring Station.    Isolated and remote, it must also be incredibly beautiful and awe inspiring.

Food heroes / Simon Farrell-Green ; photography by Duncan Innes.

"A celebration of a remarkable group of producers and growers who are returning to artisan methods to create some of New Zealand's best food and finest quality ingredients. In doing so they are changing the way we shop and eat. Embracing a time when the grower grew food, took it to market, then sold it, the 20-plus [people] profiled in this book are dedicated to providing the best-possible food products for New Zealanders to eat and cook with."

The Kiwi ute driver's guide to life / Steve Holmes.

"Kiwis and utes go together like fish and chips. But what is it about the ute that has caught the attention of so many car enthusiasts Down Under? Join Steve Holmes as he profiles over 50 Kiwis and their utes, presented in full colour."

I don't drive but looking at some of these ute's almost makes me wish that I did.  I can see it now, me driving behind the wheel of a brightly coloured, old fashioned ute, the windows down so I can feel the breeze whizzing pass and the stereo turned up loud playing a selection of classic kiwi rock hits.

Road trip anyone? 

Elevate and Celebrate the Treaty of Waitangi

As part of our Whakamana te Tiriti o Waitangi: Elevate and Celebrate the Treaty of Waitangi 2012 celebrations, Auckland Libraries is delighted to offer a range of FREE seminars across the Auckland region.

Taking place from 2 - 10 February 2012, these fascinating presentations and workshops will be delivered by treaty experts and educators, and will cover a diverse range of topical issues surrounding the treaty. Please note that booking your place for these talks is essential - details of how to reserve your spot are included on the events link on our Library website here.

And what better time to brush up on your knowledge of New Zealand's history?
At our libraries, you can find out about the development of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi), the founding document of New Zealand. Discover a variety of resources from our heritage and research departments, and join us for activities and free seminars to celebrate this important chapter of New Zealand’s history. To find out what is available at Auckland Libraries go to this Libraries website page.

Weeping Waters

Did you see the awesome film last night on Tangiwai? Despite the fact that I had very heavy eyes (will let you know the reason why for that later in the week), I stayed riveted through the whole thing, and may even have shed a tear at the end. This wasn't guy gets girl and everyone lives happily ever after stuff. This was New Zealand history, our people, our country, our pain and our triumph.




The tale told last night is recounted in book form in What are you doing out here : heroism and distress at a cricket test / Norman Harris ; with a foreword by Bob Blair.

If you want to know more about Tangiwai check out the Libraries holdings under this subject headings link.

Early Rodney Times now online

The early issues of Auckland Star and Rodney Times are now online, thanks to a collaboration between the National Library of New Zealand and Auckland Libraries. Here are some excerpts from the news release on our website.

Digitised, browseable and fully searchable, the first 33 years of the Auckland Star, and 44 years of the Rodney Times can now be read online on the National Library’s Papers Past website.

In 1901, the weekly Rodney and Otamatea Times, a four-page broadsheet, was printed on one of the first stone litho flat-bed press machines developed by Furnival & Co. Two casual workers shared the job of turning the large wheel by hand while the printer fed sheets of newsprint into the rollers.
The newspaper, published on Fridays, sold for three pennies a copy, and the annual subscription was eight shillings. This paper was renamed several times over the years, including a period as the Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, and most recently as the Rodney Gazette. You can now view issues from March 1901 to December 1945 online.

“The release of the early years of the Auckland Star and Rodney Times is a great example of National Library working in cooperation with Auckland Libraries, which holds the physical copies of the paper, and Fairfax Media, which holds the copyright, to make an invaluable historical resource available to New Zealanders at the touch of a button,” said National Librarian, Bill Macnaught.

Allison Dobbie, Manager Libraries and Information, Auckland Council, is equally enthusiastic about the collaborative project. “Auckland Libraries is committed to helping New Zealanders and researchers from around the world to access our past. Working with partners in this way helps to make this possible.”

“While the experience of the originals is irreplaceable, the value of digitised copies lie in the ease of searching and accessing the wealth of stories in these treasures for people everywhere.”

To have a look for yourself go to the Papers Past website.

Top 5 for Friday - Waitangi Day

"He iwi tahi tatou" - "We are now one people".

These are the words that Hobson purportedly spoke to each Chief on the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. I wonder what these words meant to him back then, and to those around him. Now, in the 21st Century we are still struggling to agree on a meaning and how far we have come (and in some observer's opinions receeded again) in achieving the goal. Personally, I wish that we could truly celebrate Waitangi Day as a national day and celebrate our uniqueness and unity (although I struggle, as do many, with finding a fixed picture of exactly what our 'oneness' should look like).

In terms of what the Library has to offer for Waitangi Day, today's Top 5 for Friday starts with the children and highlights the Treaty in many different formats.

1. The Treaty House by LeAnne Orams (illustrated by Roger Twiname). Journey with Olley as he learns not only is the Treaty house special, but so are the events that have happened in and around it, events that have shaped New Zealand to become the nation Olley is part of today. Suggested level: junior, primary. This picture book is a little wordy for a storytime session with a big group, but is a great title to sit down with your children and introduce them to our history.
2. Mission girl : the writings of Atapo, Paihia, c.1840 by Fleur Beale. Originally published as: A new song in the land. 2004. (My story series). Atapo, a young Māori girl, tells her story, from her capture and slavery as a young child through to her escape to the mission house in the Bay of Islands as a 14-year-old. Here she learns the new ways and language that means she is present at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Although born into an important family her capture has meant she has lost her standing in her tribe, but she hopes the new skills she has acquired will mean she can return home with her head held high. Suggested level: intermediate, junior secondary. I love the My story series as they delve into our history in diary form but from the point of view of the children who witnessed the events.
3. Canvassing the Treaty [DVD videorecording] : six New Zealand artists explore our history and create shared visions for our future / directed by Jane Reeves ; produced by Kay Ellmers. The documentary is about a group of artists (Maori and non-Maori) exploring the Treaty. Three pairs of artists of various cultural backgrounds and artistic styles are challenged to create collaborative artworks in response to the Treaty of Waitangi. Guiding them are Ngāpuhi kaumatua Kingi Taurua and treaty educators, Moana Jackson and Ingrid Huygens ... With stunning locations, eclectic artistic visions and provocative discussion, Canvassing the Treaty offers a fresh look at the legacy of the Treaty of Waitangi, through artists' eyes. I haven't seen this but when I was looking for an artists perspective of the Treaty it appealed, not only from an artistic point of view but also because of the collaborative nature and future visions. It will be going onto my viewing list.
4. An illustrated history of the Treaty of Waitangi / Claudia Orange. This account begins before the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 and tells the story to the present day. This edition covers the challenges and settlements of the last decade of the 20th century, and includes photographs, paintings and drawings - including copies of the treaties themselves. This is just one of the many non-fiction books on our shelves dealing with the Treaty of Waitangi. I have to confess to a slight bias in including it on today's Top 5 as apparently the author is a cousin of mine (several times removed). I was unaware of this fact during my study at Auckland University. But my mother has the magic power to produce a relative for me wherever in the country I may be so VOILA! Which just goes to show what a small country this actually is.
5. Digital Resources Combined Database Search. Our digital library of electronic databases has a wealth of information at your fingertips if you can't physically make it into the library. The most up to date news articles and editorials from around the country as well as historic pieces such as the 1934 celebrations. You need to play with this to find exactly what you are looking for but there are some very interesting looking titles, especially looking at New Zealand from an international perspective if you do a Combined search using the History databases.

So that's my top 5 for Friday. Have an awesome Waitangi Weekend everyone. I am hoping to get together with some librarian friends and we are going to hit the Auckland Museum, something I have been keen to do for a long time. I'm sure it will give me inspiration for more blogs next week. Ka kite

Cometh the hour. Cometh the Man

It's not an original quote (in fact there is quite some discussion about who can be credited with the original words - but that's a whole other subject for another day).

The political year kicks off formally today with the visit by all the big-hitters to the home of Ratana. And when I heard all the broadcasters contemplating this annual pilgrimage, it got me wondering just what I did know about the man who founded both the Church and the political movement.

Throughout history, certain individuals with a rare passion for justice and a gift of insight have been able to rally and motivate people through periods of great social change, sometimes defying all odds and being greatly misunderstood in the process. Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana was such a man, called to prominence at a pivotal time, with a message for the Maori people and for the wider world. After a profound vision he became a healer of people's physical ailments and a lifter of ancient curses; and he was also a leader in healing the 'land sickness' of the Maori, after decades of land confiscation by the Government and the Crown. As founder of the Ratana Church and the Ratana movement, he led his followers in the quest to unite all Maori under one God, and to restore the Treaty of Waitangi as the founding document of the nation, giving Maori equal rights to British citizens. This is part of the publishers description for the book Ratana The Prophet by Keith Newman. But it is just one of the resources we have on botht he man himself and religion that has grown based on his teachings. A Keyword search for Ratana produces several more, although some of these are valuable editions and can only be accessed in the special collections in the library.

You can also access a wide range of resources through either the Libraries Digital resources or from websites such as NZ History online.

In Memoriam

Erebus Voices
The Mountain

I am here beside my brother, Terror.
I am the place of human error.
I am beauty and cloud, and I am sorrow;
I am tears which you will weep tomorrow.
I am the sky and the exhausting gale.
I am the place of ice. I am the debris trail.
I am as far as you can see.
I am the place of memory.
And I am still a hand, a fingertip, a ring.
I am what there is no forgetting.
I am the one with truly broken heart.
I watched them fall, and freeze, and break apart.

Thirty years on, the disaster on Mount Erebus in the Antarctic still has as much power as it did on the day and night that the tragedy occurred, as do the words of this Bill Manhire poem. The event has the power to move and the power to polarise. It was a story that we may have been too close to at the time, to see all the parts clearly and this has only come with time and distance, apology and forgiveness.

Here are some links that will help on the background.

Mt Erebus in Rodney Libraries catalogue
New Zealand History website
Te Ara - Encyclopedia of New Zealand website
Christchurch City Libraries resource page
The TVNZ and the TV3 Erebus sites

Erebus Voices (continued)
The Dead

We fell.
Yet we were loved and we are lifted.
We froze.
Yet we were loved and we are warm.
We broke apart.
Yet we are here and we are whole.

Rest in Peace.

Wairau Bar

I love programmes like "Time Team" so I'm extremely interested in what's going on down at Wairau Bar in the South Island. This is the site of an early New Zealand settlement (700 years ago!) and was excavated in the 1940s and 1950s. This year, the human remains that were found at that time are being returned to the Bar. It's a delicate business to ensure the rest of the site isn't disturbed because there's still a lot to be learnt.

One of the team at the Bar has been keeping a blog, called "Wairau Bar blog: the return of New Zealand's first people." Part archaeology, part social history, part photo essay, it's a fascinating look at a working site. Quinn writes "Remember that Wairau Bar was not a cemetery or burial ground - it was a large and thriving settlement, permanent enough to have its own cemetery, with a whole range of everyday tasks and activities going on, like any other small town. Previous work has given us an idea of the funeral rituals of these people, but we want to know more about how they lived day-to-day."

One of the original excavators of the site, Roger Duff wrote a book about Wairau Bar in the 1950s called "The Moa-hunter period of Maori culture". Rodney Libraries doesn't hold a copy however Waitakere and North Shore Libraries do. We have a reciprocal lending arrangement with these two libraries which means that you can join either library for free. You have to abide by their library rules (which are slightly different to ours) and return your books to their libraries. If you want to join you can sign up online or in person at one of their branches. Remember to take personal identification and proof of address (like a rates or power bill) with you when you go to pick up your card.

Sadness in the Air

I actually wrote the post for today earlier this week (in one of my inspired and psuedo-organised moments). However when I woke to the news this morning that an Air New Zealand Airbus had crashed into the Mediterranean today with the loss of five New Zealand lives amongst the seven crew who were on board, I realised that there would need to be some changes.

While the blue waters of the Mediterranean are a far cry from the frozen slopes of Mount Erebus, and the cliche "history repeating itself" would be stretching things too far and taking away from the enormity of the loss of life on Erebus, this crash happening on the 29th anniversary of the Antarctica disastr is (as Air New Zealand executive Rob Fyfe said this morning) "poignant". Our condolences to the families. For more information on todays tragedy go to http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/5176780/nzers-feared-dead-air-nz-crash/

Here is the framework of the original post I prepared.

On Wednesday 28th November 1979, Air New Zealand Flight TE901 crashed into the side of Mount Erebus in Antartica during a sightseeing flight. This still ranks as New Zealands biggest air disaster with the loss of 237 passengers and 20 crew. Today is the 29th anniversary of the disaster and around New Zealand especially, but internationally also, families and friends will be remembering their lost loved ones. The losses included several Rodney residents.

More information about this New Zealand event can be found in the internet at several excellent sites including at Christchurch City Libraries and Te Ara (The Encyclopedia of New Zealand). Rodney Libraries have several resources specifically referring to Mount Erebus (click on the words to go to our catalogue). If you are wanting to know more about air disasters around the world, carry out a subject search for Aircraft Accidents.

Bill Manhire was commissioned to compose a poem for the 25th anniversary of the disaster in 2004. It was originally read by the late Sir Edmund Hillary.

EREBUS VOICES - The Mountain
I am here beside my brother, Terror.
I am the place of human error.
I am beauty and cloud, and I am sorrow;
I am tears which you will weep tomorrow.
I am the sky and the exhausting gale.
I am the place of ice. I am the debris trail.
I am as far as you see.
I am the place of memory.
And I am still a hand, a fingertip, a ring.
I am what there is no forgetting.
I am the one with truly broken heart.
I watched them fall, and freeze, and break apart.

We fell
Yet we were loved and we are lifted
We froze
Yet we were loved and we are warm.
We broke apart.
Yet we are here and we are whole.