Local history gifts

An entertaining history of rural life in Aotearoa, told through artefacts, gadgets and ephemera that tell a story that goes deeper than the objects themselves. The most fun you'll ever have learning about rural life in New Zealand. Told through a varied selection of items from the everyday (apples, Red Band gumboots, milk tankers and ride-on mowers) to the weird...

The Hollows Boys tells the story of the helicopter deer recovery era in Fiordland through the lives of three brothers: Gary, Mark, and Kim Hollows. There is the usual daredevil 'boy’s own adventure' side of the story, with extreme competition between pilots and huge sums of money at stake. But there is also the strange phenomenon of luck, the roll...

Over 370 quirky destinations that are known to locals but frequently bypassed by visitoprs. From lonely beaches, historic buildings and ancient pa sites to children's playgrounds, award-winning gin distilleries, and peculiar street art, this comprehensive guidebook not only points you in the direction of unusual sights and adventures, but also uncovers the other side of New Zealand's history and landscape.

Another Day Like Yesterday is a collection of rollicking tales – some tall, most true – from Guy Clapshaw’s early days flying for Air New Zealand. Back in the mid-1960s, the airline had just begun to expand from Tasman Empire Airways, a tiny three-aeroplane regional airline into Air New Zealand, the international giant it is today.Much like the airline itself, this book flits...

Nine Girls is a page-turning adventure from Stacy Gregg, one of Aotearoa's most internationally successful and locally awarded writers. An epic story woven with suspense by Pony Club Secrets and The Princess and the Foal author Stacy Gregg - winner of the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year and the Esther Glen Award for Junior Fiction! They dug a hole...

In Aue eight-year-old Arama was taken by his brother, Taukiri, to live with Kat and Stu at the farm in Kaikoura, setting in train the tragedy that unfolded. Arama's aunty Kat was at the centre of events, but silenced by abuse, her voice was absent from the story. In Kataraina, Kat and her whānau take over the telling. As one,...

Victorian Wellington street by street In 1891, a remarkable map of Wellington was made by surveyor Thomas Ward. It recorded the footprint of every building, from Thorndon in the north and across the teeming, inner-city slums of Te Aro to Berhampore in the south. Updated regularly over the next 10 years, it detailed hotels, theatres, oyster saloons, brothels, shops, stables,...

'Twas the night before Christmas and all round the bach, not a possum was stirring; not one could we catch. Take one Santa dressed in singlet and shorts, and put him on a miniature tractor pulled by eight flying sheep, and you have a Kiwi version of the well-loved Clement C. Moore poem. Children will delight in Yvonne Morrison's humorous...

Over 420 quirky destinations that are known to locals but frequently bypassed by visitors. From lonely beaches, historic buildings, and ancient pa sites to children's playgrounds, award-winning gin distilleries, and peculiar street art, this comprehensive guidebook not only points you in the direction of unusual sights and adventures, but also uncovers the other side of New Zealand's history and landscape....

A breathtaking collection of 200 photographs expertly colourised by Aotearoa New Zealand's premier colourist, Brendan Graham, with commentary from award-winning historian Jock Phillips ONZM Our Land in Colour celebrates the rich story of Aotearoa through the restoration of images never before seen in colour. Two hundred images have been meticulously colourised, opening a window back in time with remarkable detail....

Children of the Rush - Book 3 is the third and final book in the Children of the Rush middle grade novel trilogy. It is historical fiction, set in Otago and Hokitika, New Zealand during the gold rushes of the 1860s. Atarangi, Michael, and Siu have crossed the Southern Alps and settled in Hokitika just as a new gold rush...

Discover all the foul facts about the history of the highlands with history's most horrible headlines: Scottish edition. The master of making history fun, Terry Deary, turns his attention to Scotland. From the truth about William Wallace and the disgusting details of sick Scottish torture techniques to how to terrify a tourist with gory Scottish ghost stories, it's all in...

Meeting Place The

Gold Under the Manuka

In Pastoral Care, Auckland writer John Prins gives us nine clear-eyed, witty and beautifully written stories centred on daily life in twenty-first-century Aotearoa New Zealand. On the shores of Lake Pukaki; in kitchens, bedrooms and Lego-strewn living rooms; at school events; walking the dog, pushing a buggy, or stuck in traffic with a child kicking the back of the driver’s...

A favourite area of photographer James Ogilvy, his Portobello Road Puzzle celebrates the eccentricity of this unique London street with its long history of markets and small, unusual stores. Galison puzzles are packaged in matte-finish sturdy boxes, perfect for gifting, reuse, and storage. 1000 pieces Box Size: 11.25 x 8.25 x 2", 86 x 210 x 51 mm Puzzle Size:...

South Island 1000pc Puzzle is a captivating 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle featuring New Zealand's South Island. The finished puzzle measures 688 x 493mm, while the box dimensions are 365 x 270 x 58mm. This puzzle showcases hand-drawn, original colour artwork in stunning detail. Discover delightful details, quintessential Kiwi sculptures, and various places of interest. Additionally, you can learn the meanings behind various...

North Island 1000pc Puzzle is a captivating 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle featuring New Zealand's North Island. The finished puzzle measures 688 x 493mm, while the box dimensions are 365 x 270 x 58mm. This puzzle showcases hand-drawn, original colour artwork in stunning detail. Discover delightful details, quintessential Kiwi sculptures, and various places of interest. Additionally, you can learn the meanings behind various...

The extraordinary journey of an ordinary man. Born in 1894, and first sent to work at the age of eight, Facey lived the rough frontier life of a labourer, farmer and jackaroo. He survived Gallipoli, raised a family through the Depression, lost a son in the Second World War, and met his beloved Evelyn with whom he shared nearly 60...

A major work by a distinguished historian, Garrison World examines the lives of soldiers and families constituting the British military presence in New Zealand and other territories during the nineteenth century. The British Empire’s expansion relied on a vast, mobile army (‘redcoats’), supported by a dominant navy (‘bluejackets’). Despite New Zealand’s treatybased beginnings with tangata whenua, signifi cant British forces...

Tamaki Makaurau 2025 is a city in flux. Its people and places are in a constant state of change as they evolve into the millennium. To capture a sliver of Auckland in time, this collection offers space for twelve distinct voices from across the isthmus to share personal reflections, pulling from the past to see the city in the present....

Get ready for an epic adventure like no other with our awesome series of kid's travel guides featuring the most amazing cities around the world. London, here we come! Did you know that London is home to castles that are more than 900 years old, or that Tower Bridge includes a walkway with a see-through glass floor, or that the...

Welcome to Sotheran's, the oldest, most bonkers bookshop in the country, with its bizarre clientele, suspicious cupboards, unlabelled keys, poisoned books, some things that aren't even books, and deeply eccentric staff. Think Diary of a Bookseller but with quite a lot more Bernard Black. Some years ago, Oliver Darkshire stepped into the hushed interior of Henry Sotheran Ltd on Sackville...

Don't miss the exclusive first print run edition of The Story Spinner adorned with a beautiful foiled feather design and featuring stunning maps inside. Available while stocks last! Transport yourself to the ancient land of the Silures in 382 AD, where a Welsh princess named Elen is promised to a Roman General, Macsen. Travelling to Wales in search of an...

A major, retrospective launch of Roberto Bolaño's work - now published as a Vintage Classics author for the first time. Father Sebastian Urrutia Lacroix is dying. A priest, a member of Opus Dei, a literary critic and a poet, in his feverish delirium the crucial events of his past swell around him. From glimpses of the great poet Pablo Neruda,...

The Auckland neighbourhood of Grey Lynn has near legendary status. Sometimes referred to as 'The People's Republic of Grey Lynn', history is everywhere here despite its recent gentrification. From the eeling ground of mana whenua and its colonial carve-up into farmland, to the gradual progression of residential development through Victorian and Edwardian times and beyond, early industry, the rough and...

Red Bones is the third Shetland novel featuring detective Jimmy Perez. Sometimes the dead won't stay buried... When a young archaeologist uncovers a set of human remains, the island settlers are intrigued. Is it an ancient find—or a more contemporary mystery? Then an elderly woman is shot in what appears to be a tragic accident in the middle of the...

Celebrate 40 years of European puzzle mastery with the Trefl: 40th Anniversary of Trefl - Paper Art: Paris - 1000pc Jigsaw Puzzle. Bold, contemporary, and gallery-worthy, these puzzles transform intricate paper sculpture-inspired designs into a beautifully challenging and display-worthy puzzle experience. Crafted with Trefl’s signature high-quality blue board, each piece is precision-cut for a smooth, seamless finish. Made in Europe...

Get ready to explore the city in a whole new way. This innovative book for younger readers is packed with city facts, loads of flaps to lift, and unfolding pages to see inside buildings and under the streets. Children aged 5+ can learn about skyscrapers, subway systems, and stinky sewers. Discover where people live and peek behind closed doors to...

Professor Paul Moon is one of New Zealand's most prolific authors; his latest biography on photographer Ans Westra garnered glowing reviews. In this book his meticulous research shows, through selected art works, how imperial art became a form of colonisation by colour. He writes, 'artists in New Zealand in the colonial era, not tied to a state vision, tried to...

In Fire Stations of Aotearoa New Zealand, the author hits the road once more. A retired volunteer Station Officer himself, he visits a selection of the 653 fire stations the length and breadth of the country, both career and volunteer stations. Interviewing mainly Fire Chiefs and Deputies, the author delved into the motivation behind becoming a firefighter and how the...

A True NZ Story Join Danny Fisher, his granddaughter Pru, and his dog Kiwi as they take you back in time... To 1919, when our national emblem—the KIWI—was carved into the chalky slopes of Beacon Hill, above Sling Camp in Southern England by NZ soldiers at the end of WW1. Discover how our Kiwi was saved from extinction by Danny...

The 1660s represent a turning point in English history, and for the main events—the Restoration, the Dutch War, the Great Plague and the Fire of London—Pepys provides a definitive eyewitness account, along with lively descriptions of his socialising, his amorous entanglements, his theatre-going and music-making. Unequalled for its frankness, high spirits and sharp observations, the diary is both a literary...

The number-one bestseller The story of how an extraordinary childhood shaped an extraordinary life On the West Coast of the South Island, past deep fiords and snow-capped mountains, Chris Long grew up two days' hike from the nearest road. He was born into the country's most isolated family, his parents committed to freedom from capitalist society and connection to the...

The Round House by Louise Erdrich is a profound exploration of justice, family, and the haunting landscape of Native American life. The novel delves into the life of thirteen-year-old Joe Coutts, whose world is shattered when his mother, Geraldine, is violently attacked on their North Dakota reservation. The trauma leaves Geraldine bedridden and silent, withdrawing emotionally from her family and...

The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich is a profoundly moving and thought-provoking novel that captures the resilience and spirit of Native American life amidst the challenges of mid-20th century America. Set in 1953, the novel centres on Thomas Wazhushk, a dedicated night watchman at the first factory established near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in rural North Dakota. Thomas is not...

A Tomb With a View – The Stories & Glories of Graveyards by Peter Ross is a compelling journey through some of the world’s most fascinating graveyards. Far from being just places of death, Ross reveals them as vital and enduring repositories of stories, history, art, and even humour. He takes readers from the haunting beauty of Flanders Fields, echoing...

Have you ever dreamt of owning a secluded set of islands, a personal slice of paradise far from the hustle and bustle of modern life? In Sea Room, Adam Nicolson invites readers into the mesmerising world of the Shiants, a trio of remote islands in the Outer Hebrides. Bought by his father in the 1930s for a modest £1,400, the...

Here's a fantastic tale for kids about the classic Kiwi holiday that includes a caravan, a beach and the sometimes-smelly toilet shed out the back of the holiday section – the longdrop. The kids need to go, and the public loo is sooo far away from their caravan. So, Dad builds a longdrop! When the paper builds to capacity, Dad...

Blue Lightning The fourth Shetland novel A remote island on lockdown. A killer on the loose . . . Shetland detective Jimmy Perez knows it will be a difficult homecoming when he returns to Fair Isle to introduce his fiancée to his parents. With the autumn storms raging, the island is cut off from the rest of the world. Then...

Club Kiwi (Ella and Olivia #38) by Yvette Poshoglian takes readers on an exciting overseas adventure as Ella and Olivia embark on a holiday to New Zealand! Join them as they explore the wonders of the land of the long white cloud. Ella and Olivia are thrilled to make the most of their trip. But will they be able to...

Spending his weekends exploring historic churches across the idyllic English countryside—and sharing their beauty and unsung history across social media—Luke Sherlock is bringing English history and the heritage of our rural countryside to a new audience. England is full of incredible churches, from small stone chapels and quiet Romanesque masterpieces, to thousand-year-old Saxon stalwarts, dramatic Gothic monuments and high Victorian...

The Waikato War is a pivotal event in the history of Aotearoa. In this accessible introduction, Vincent O’Malley explains the enduring impact of these conflicts, continuing his remarkable work on the New Zealand Wars. The book begins with the 1863 crossing of the Mangatāwhiri River by British troops. This act marked the Crown’s declaration of war against the Waikato tribes,...

'AN UNSETTLING THRILLER' BOOKLIST 'LUSHLY WRITTEN' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY In this gripping New Zealand thriller, New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh takes you into the twisted world of an exclusive cul-de-sac. When socialite Nina Rai disappeared without a trace, everyone wrote it off as another trophy wife tired of her wealthy husband. But now her bones have turned up in...

For most New Zealanders, Manapouri is associated with the country's largest and most successful environmental protest, but there is another, less well-known narrative of this time. The struggle to drill a tailrace tunnel under a rocky mountain at Manapouri, blast out a cavernous machine hall at West Arm, and carve a road over the treacherous Wilmot Pass is a powerful...

Two Shakes of a Lamb's Tail is the funny, illuminating diary of a year in the life of a New Zealand farm vet. With a husband and two children, 1200 sheep and 400 cattle, farm dogs and pet lambs, pigs bent on excavation, and a goat bent on escape, country life is never dull. From calving cows to constipated dogs,...

In Tokyo - one of the world's largest megacities - a stray cat is wending her way through the back alleys. And, with each detour, she brushes up against the seemingly disparate lives of the city-dwellers, connecting them in unexpected ways. But the city is changing. As it does, it pushes her to the margins where she chances upon a...

Discover all the foul facts about fifty gruesome great houses with history’s most horrible headlines: Gruesome Great Houses edition. Jump into horrible houses with Terry Deary, the master of making history fun. From Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh to Buckingham Palace in London, this book covers the history of Britain and Ireland from the time of the savage Stone Age right up...

An inspiring guide to outstanding New Zealand gardens that are open to visit (and sometimes to stay). Visiting a beautiful garden feeds your soul and lifts your spirits. Here are more than 50 remarkable New Zealand gardens, all of them open to visit. Well-known garden photographer Juliet Nicholas and journalist Rosemary Barraclough travelled from the top of Aotearoa to its...

The Power Broker by Robert A. Caro is a formidable biographical masterpiece that transports readers into the world of Robert Moses, a man whose visionary prowess shaped the very landscape of twentieth-century New York. As Caro delves into the life and times of Moses, the biography reveals the intricate web of power dynamics that stemmed from one man's ambition, ingenuity,...

For over thirty years Shane Cotton (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Hine, Te Uri Taniwha) has developed a rigorous and evolving painting practice, using the medium to layer the visual languages through which Aotearoa can be seen and understood. In this book, leading art writer Anthony Byrt takes us on a voyage into Te Tai Tokerau to unravel the relationships, landscapes...

What lies off-track in Tongariro National Park? This engrossing book contains stories of ghosts, fires, avalanches, plane wrecks, sly grogging, secret spots, and more from around Ngauruhoe, Tongariro, and Ruapehu—a place of wild and chaotic grandeur. This well-illustrated and lively exploration of the history of Ruapehu is told by a self-confessed 'Ruapehu addict' who has an uncanny talent for persuading...

Where kids ran wild and resilience developed…Behind The Hill is a social history, recording people’s lives from interviews, from one end of Golden Bay to the other. Each and every portrayal has something to say about the values and norms of the time.The book follows the revolutionary changes that affected one of New Zealand’s most isolated areas over succeeding decades...

Inspired by the popular BBC series, Monty Don provides a fascinating, lavishly illustrated, and totally unique portrait of Britain, then and now, through its gardens. British Gardens poses the question: What do our gardens say about us? Monty Don has spent many years travelling the world, from America to Japan, from Italy and the Adriatic to Spain and the Mediterranean,...

'Behind the foreground narratives of justification, real or symbolic wounds are stored in the archives of cultural memory.' From curriculum to commemoration to constitutional reform, our society is in the grip of memory, a politics and culture marked by waves of loss, grief, absence, and victimhood. Why are certain aspects of the past remembered over others, and why does this...

The bestselling master of historical fiction weaves a sweeping drama of New York from the city's founding to the present day. A sweeping, epic novel of the greatest city in the world. From the empty grandeur of the New World to the skyscrapers of the City that Never Sleeps, from the intimate detail of lives long forgotten to those lived...

From lifestyle blocks to vineyards, high country stations and boat ramps, the humble tractor is a much-loved and instantly recognisable feature in any New Zealand landscape. The tractor is a part of our national identity, as Kiwi as pavlova, Marmite and a silver fern on the sacred black jersey. In Kiwi Tractors, Steve Hale elicits some delightful stories of affection...

Sticker Dolly Dressing Fashion Long Ago is a historically accurate sticker book in this well-known series. Dress the dolls in different fashions, from the Ancient Egyptians to London in the 60s. Use the stickers of traditional clothes, shoes, and accessories to dress the girl and boy dolls through the ages. From togas in Ancient Rome to wigs, high-heeled shoes, and...

That the Blitz did not bring the UK to its knees is due, in large part, to a vast response by Civil Defence services and the British people themselves. During the war itself, some 1.5 million people took up duties in the Civil Defence (General) services, in roles ranging from air raid wardens to ambulance drivers to heavy rescue parties....

Journey into the heart of wild New Zealand with Blue Duck Station, a captivating portrait of one of the country's most environmentally significant stations. Nestled alongside the idyllic Whanganui National Park, where the Whanganui and Retaruke rivers converge, this remarkable station combines traditional farming practices with tourism, conservation, and new ways of doing things. The land's rich past and the...

Margaret and Elsie Balfour have been raised on a farm in South Canterbury in the latter part of the nineteenth century. The sisters' lives diverge when Elsie leaves for the United Kingdom to study medicine at Edinburgh University. As the eldest, Margaret remains at home, taking on the expected role of caring for her many siblings. When tragedy strikes, the...

Running in the Family is Michael Ondaatje's exquisite blend of memoir and historical portrait, painting a vivid picture of his family's past within the lush backdrop of Sri Lanka. The narrative begins with a haunting sense of longing and curiosity that compels the author to return to his homeland after spending twenty-five years in the starkly different climate of Ontario,...

Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Scotland's history with Scotland by Magnus Magnusson. This compelling narrative takes you on a journey through the nation's long and arduous path to nationhood, re-examining cherished myths and uncovering a wealth of fascinating new details. The book offers a fresh perspective on the history of Scotland, beginning with the earliest Mesolithic settlers on...

In 1990 those living on Chatham Islands/ Rekohu/ Wharekauri faced crisis. Annexed to New Zealand by a London proclamation, the Islands had experienced 150 years of New Zealand control. Years of muddlement, some good intentions, financial waste exploitation and theft, and failure to deliver democratic rights and basic infrastructure. The after-effects of Rogernomics had produced a government decision to “walk...

From the 1870s, a generation of bold women made mountaineering history around Aoraki Mount Cook. They claimed space in the mountains, defying conventions and forging a legacy that shaped every woman who followed. Then their stories were quietly erased. Drawing on scattered records, oral histories and forgotten stories, Great Hearts resurrects their extraordinary achievements, blending nonfiction with reimagined fiction in...

Orchard Jigsaw – Map of Australia & New Zealand is an engaging and interactive puzzle that allows users to explore the stunning landscapes and iconic landmarks of both countries. With vibrant colors and expertly designed pieces, this jigsaw offers a fun-filled experience for all ages. Each piece represents a unique aspect of Australia’s and New Zealand’s natural beauty, culture, and...

For experienced puzzlers, the 1000-piece format is ideal for enjoying the relaxing and relaxing activity of puzzle solving. Each piece has a unique shape and fits together perfectly to form the chosen image. Ravensburger Puzzles means premium quality puzzle fun. Whether you are a beginner, advanced or professional puzzler, you will find the right number of pieces and the right...

Would you rather wipe Henry VIII’s bottom for him or be one of his wives? Would you rather act in a Tudor play or take part in a jousting match? Only you can decide! Adventure into the fascinating world of the Tudors with this new Would You Rather book!Packed with fun situations, this book is the perfect way to learn...

From the alleyways of Soho to the medieval remains of Moorgate, the new book by Sunday Times bestselling author Jack Chesher takes you on a journey through London and its history, showing you its hidden corners. Explore the fascinating history of the city with the creator of the ever-popular @LivingLondonHistory. Have you ever wondered where a notorious Victorian murderer was...

Live Like a Hunter Gatherer is an informative and immersive guide to the Stone Age, written by a real-life hunter-gatherer. If you imagined that all Stone Age people lived in caves, were not very clever, not very clean, and said "Ugg" a lot, then think again. Marking the start of all human history, the Stone Age lasted around 3.5 million...

An eleven-year-old’s straight-from-the-heart account of life through the Canterbury quakes and shakes of 2010-11. Anyone would think Maddy’s world had crumbled when she didn’t get a cell phone for her eleventh birthday. But Maddy soon has far more important things to worry about. In the dark of night, with a terrifying rumble and a deafening roar, the world turns upside...

December 1940. New Year's Eve draws closer, but crowds will not be gathering on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral to celebrate. After a quiet Christmas, the whole area has just suffered London's most devastating air raid since the start of the Blitz and waves of incendiary bombs have burnt the heart of British book publishing to the ground. Detective...

The very first maps, oral maps made by early Polynesian and Māori settlers, were waypoints, lists of places in songs, chants, karakia, and stories that showed direction. Hundreds of years later, Abel Tasman made the first attempt at a physical map; this was followed more than a century later by James Cook, whose more detailed map was made as he...

An enthralling historical novel of immigration, courage and first love from an award-winning New Zealand author. Displaced follows Eloise and her family as they leave Cornwall on a treacherous sea journey to start a new life in 1870s colonial New Zealand. During the voyage, Eloise meets Lars, a Norwegian labourer travelling below decks, and their lives begin to intertwine. When...

The Library of Trinity College Dublin dates back to the establishment of the College in 1592 and is the largest library in Ireland. Its extensive collection of journals, manuscripts, maps and music reflects over 400 years of academic development and amounts to over 6 million volumes. A Legal Deposit Library since 1801, it receives copies of all material published in...

A gripping new novel from one of our leading writers. A compulsive and chilling novel about subjugation, survival, and the meaning of family. Up on the highway, the only evidence that the Chamberlains had ever been there was two smeared tyre tracks in the mud leading into the almost undamaged screen of bushes and trees. No other cars passed that...

"Fast-paced and highly absorbing." —Wall Street Journal A magisterial new history of the fierce final chapter of the "Indian Wars," told through the lives of the two most legendary and consequential American Indian leaders, who led Sioux resistance and triumphed at the Battle of Little Bighorn True West magazine's "Best Nonfiction Book of the Year" Winner of the Colorado Book...

The Times Top 10 Bestseller Shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize Drowned. Buried by sand. Decimated by plague. Plunged off a cliff. This is the forgotten history of Britain's lost cities, ghost towns and vanished villages: our shadowlands. 'A beautiful book, truly original . . . It is a marvellous achievement.' - IAN MORTIMER, author of The Time Traveller's Guide to...

In Dreams of El Dorado, H. W. Brands tells the thrilling, panoramic story of the settling of the American West, from Lewis and Clark's expedition in the early 19th century to the closing of the frontier by the early 20th. He introduces us to explorers, mountain men, cowboys, missionaries and soldiers, taking us from John Jacob Astor's fur trading campaign...