New Zealand Biographies

Gripping true-life stories from a career spent inside New Zealand prisons. Inside the Wire by Rhonda Hāpi-Smith offers an insider's view into the world of New Zealand's most dangerous criminals. As a female prison officer and member of the Riot Squad, she encountered and worked alongside thieves, addicts, gangsters, murderers, and sex offenders for nearly twenty years in men's prisons...

Life with New Zealand's remotest family in a follow-on from the bestselling A Life on Gorge River by Robert Long. In 2010, New Zealand met its remotest family through the writing of Robert Long—aka Beansprout—and we were intrigued. Now Beansprout's wife, Catherine Stewart, tells her story and answers many of our questions. Why did she decide to join him on...

By 1965, at the age of thirty, Frank Erceg had established an impressive reputation as a marksman, mountaineer, and photographer, with his work widely published in newspapers and magazines of the day. That same year, Frank and his mate Johnny Cumming were killed in New Zealand's first helicopter hunting accident, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit hunting community. Frank's story began...

From There to Here is a memoir by Joe Bennett, tracing his journey from Willingdon to Lyttelton. It is a tale about love, learning, and the transformative years leading up to thirty. Joe Bennett, well-known for his countless columns and over twenty books, finally presents this long-awaited memoir. From There to Here captures the essence of a childhood filled with...

'Shaneel is not like anyone you have ever met. An absolute must-read.' - Ruby Tui What would you do if you were told by the people you loved the most that the way you were born was evil and wrong? For Shaneel Lal, this was their reality from the time they were five. Growing up in a tiny, traditional village...

An inspiring and revealing memoir about the relentless pursuit of dreams, and the highs and lows along the way, from one of the Black Caps' finest test cricketers. All Out by Neil Wagner is a captivating account of one of the greatest bowlers ever to play test cricket for New Zealand. His unique style and passion for the game made...

With his sharp wit and poet's eye, Tim Heath writes of a forty-year career, mostly in New Zealand but also in Samoa. He's worked in small country schools, in big city schools, at the Correspondence School, in primary schools and in secondary schools. He's been a principal and a deputy principal. Teaching wasn't his first choice, but once in the...

Mike Munro spent nearly 22 years working inside the political domain in Wellington. He reported on politics from the parliamentary press gallery for 10 years and then switched to the dark side, becoming the only person to serve as chief press secretary to one Labour prime minister, and later as chief of staff to another. His days as a political...

The astonishing debut memoir about mothers and daughters, drinking, birth and loss, running away and homecoming from prize-winning writer and broadcaster Noelle McCarthy. "I'll be grand, girl, I've great faith." - Mammy, just before she died Funny, charismatic and generous; angry, vicious and hurt; in pub lounges all over Cork City, Noelle McCarthy's mother Carol rages against her life and...

This is the gripping, often surprising story of one of New Zealand's toughest and most resilient fighters. Shane Cameron rose from humble beginnings to become a dominant force in the Australasian heavyweight division. Known for his explosive power and fearless fighting style, Cameron captured multiple national titles and fought 'The Fight of the Century' against David Tua in the biggest...

Woman in the Wilderness is an intriguing and mesmerizing book. - Ben Fogle This book tells how one woman learned to dig deep and push the boundaries in order to discover what really matters in life. Miriam is a young Dutch woman living in the heart of the mountains with her New Zealand husband. She lives simply in a tent...

In his debut essay collection, award-winning Filipino-Kiwi essayist Joseph Trinidad explores the lessons of his grandmother’s chicken farm and his grandfather’s lucky golden fish; the vibrancy of his home country and its rites of passage such as tuli, beauty pageants and national Boy Scout jamborees; the contradictions of Aotearoa, which welcomes his family’s labour but insists they leave their mother...

The life and letters of one of the first European women to settle in New Zealand. In 1822, Marianne Williams, with her missionary husband Henry and their three small children, left England forever. Their new home, in New Zealand's Bay of Islands, was a remote one-house settlement—the Church Missionary Society mission station headquarters. This was nearly twenty years before the...

In 2010, before Te Araroa officially opened or was widely known, Shalane Hopkins set out to walk its 3,000 km across New Zealand with a friend. Few Kiwis had attempted the trail, and the route remained rugged and untamed. The 171-day journey tested her grit, resilience, and determination as she faced relentless rain, endless beaches, bush, injuries, and even giardia....

In 1971, a band of young English and colonial adventurers piled into an old Bedford truck called Monty and set out from London with little money, no plan, and a hunger for something bigger than home. Over four unforgettable months, they crossed deserts and borders, jungles and cities, travelling from Morocco to Durban and learning, sometimes the hard way, what...

Zero to 60 and Beyond by Tony Quinn – The Unstoppable Journey of a Self-Made Businessman and Motorsport Legend “Everyone’s got to live their own life, make the most of the cards they’re dealt, and write their own story. One of the gifts I was born with was the gift of the gab,” says Tony Quinn. From humble beginnings, turning...

A luscious tribute to an early New Zealand botanical artist, Groundwork is part inspired creative endeavour and part determined detective work. This long overdue book brings to light one of New Zealand's most significant botanical artists of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Just as Emily Harris's beautiful paintings occupy a liminal space between scientific botanical illustration and art, so...

Growing up in 1950s Auckland, Greg Newbold's early years were marked by order and chaos in equal measure, as his stable childhood later became transformed by his mother's alcoholism. After leaving school at 17, he entered university in 1970 and soon became immersed in the drug-fuelled hedonism of the era. Always a risk-taker, he began dealing in the drugs he...

Lloyd Geering is one of New Zealand's foremost thinkers, a man of clarity and vision who continues to present new and challenging ideas about the spiritual life of the culture he lives in. His life almost spans the twentieth century, and his stories of growing up in the Depression, cycling trips around the country, and a lively but impoverished student...

In 1940, 28-year-old Jack Elworthy left to fight in Europe. He would return seven years later, changed forever. Like many soldiers, Jack had experienced the best and worst of human nature—from the kindness and bravery of Crete civilians to the unimaginable horrors of Dachau. He escaped from Greece as the Nazis rolled in, fought and was captured in Crete, and...

An award-winning journalist tells her haunting family story. Diana Wichtel was born in Vancouver. Her mother was a New Zealander, her father a Polish Jew who had jumped off a train to the Treblinka death camp and hidden from the Nazis until the end of the war. When Diana was 13, she moved to New Zealand with her mother, sister...

Philippa's much-loved book A High Country Life sprang from her popular Instagram page, 'What's for Smoko'. Full of great stories of living through the seasons on a high country station, it contained stunning images of the beautiful landscape in which Philippa and her family live and farm. Her second book, Winter Warmers, includes more fascinating tales from past staff and...

Snow on the Lindis is Madge Snow's story of living at Morven Hills Station on the Lindis Pass. Morven Hills is one of New Zealand's famous stations, once an enormous 400,000 acres. The great stone woolshed is one of New Zealand's most recognisable farm buildings and is among the largest shearing sheds in the country with 34 stands. Madge Snow...

Sixty years ago, New Zealand's greatest adventurer, Edmund Hillary, made world history with his ascent of Mt Everest. This intimate and inspiring book tells the full story of Sir Edmund Hillary's extraordinary life, from his expeditions to remote corners of the world to his humanitarian activities serving the Sherpa people. Drawing on Sir Ed's personal archives, it is a portrait...

More cock and bull stories from New Zealand's favourite country vets. Old Dogs New Tricks brings you more laugh-out-loud and entertaining yarns from two of New Zealand's renowned veterinarians, Peter Anderson (aka the Flying Vet) and Peter Jerram (aka the Sailing Vet). With over thirty years of shared practice, they have plenty of stories to tell about the animals and...

Raising children is a challenge at the best of times—try doing it on a farm that is a three-hour drive across rivers and mountains to the nearest town, when the track is driveable at all. Remote Muzzle Station in southern Marlborough has captured the hearts and minds of generations, including Fiona Redfern and her parents before her. Fiona grew up...

'My own first memory is the cupboard door, and laughing, erupting with laughter' – a memoir about finding an identity, a voice and laughter. From the best-selling and acclaimed author Barbara Else, Laughing at the Dark is a funny, moving memoir about how she rebelled against being a 'good girl'. By the time she was in her forties, Barbara was...

A mother and daughter's wild journey to rediscover the wonder and restorative power of nature. "I'm here because I want to test the very limits of my own resilience and reassure myself that no matter what's happened to me, I'm not ready to lie down and die." In 2021, Victoria Bruce quit her corporate job, packed up her life and...

Farmer Tim Saunders manages to incorporate some writing into his days, and here he describes his life through the seasons: Summer, shearing, slaughter, crop harvest, conservation; Autumn, floods, trading stock, drenching, dagging; Winter, maize harvest, lambing; and Spring, docking, pet sheep, weaning. It's a tough life and through his powerful, poignant writing, Tim tells of his connection to the land,...

For anyone who has dreamed of living in the country, here's the hilarious, heart-warming brutal reality. Rebecca Hayter was a high-profile yachting journalist based in Auckland when she followed a whim to buy a lifestyle block on the beach at Golden Bay at the top of the South Island – but she didn't know what she didn't know. Unexpectedly in...

True stories of life and death from a New Zealand pathologist. From the number-one bestselling author of The Cause of Death comes a book about the unlikely, extraordinary, obscure, and often tragic ways humans meet their end. A dead body without a trace of trauma; alien parasites; worms of the brain; crocodile attacks and bizarre eating disorders... In The Quick...

Missing Persons by Steve Braunias is a compelling collection of twelve extraordinary tales of disappearance, showcasing the masterful true crime writing of New Zealand's award-winning author. Within its pages, you will encounter the chilling story of former journalist Murray Mason, found dead in the Auckland Domain. Delve into the mysterious death of Socksay Chansy, discovered lifeless in a graveyard by...

An All Black's memoir of rugby, dementia, and the hidden cost of success 'The best sports book I have read in decades' - Kevin Norquay, Stuff 'Startlingly honest' - Phil Gifford 'A brilliant read. Bold, brave and honest' - Mike Hosking, Newstalk ZB Carl Hayman, All Black #1000, once the most highly prized player in world rugby and a giant...

This gripping biography of Air Commodore Keith 'Grid' Caldwell CBE, MC, DFC & Bar, Croix de Guerre, tells the story of his remarkable exploits during the First World War. Flying single-seat fighters against the best of the German air force, including the Red Baron's Flying Circus and airmen such as Werner Voss, Caldwell accumulated 26 victories in aerial combat. Over...

Join Johnny Wray in the enduring New Zealand classic that has inspired adventurers for generations, as South Sea Vagabonds embarks on its 75th anniversary edition. A tale of resilience, daring, and the pursuit of dreams, this narrative follows Johnny's journey from the bustling shores of Auckland to the serene, untouched beauty of the South Pacific's azure waters and palm-fringed atolls....

A powerful story of how one man didn't let other people define him Bariz gifts us his truth-telling, delivered with unwavering optimism.' Matt Brown, author of She Is Not Your Rehab Beautifully written. Takes us right inside a young person's life and is ultimately uplifting in the way they take control of that life.' Kathryn Ryan, RNZ Nine to Noon...

The updated edition of a travel classic. Twenty years ago, Joe Bennett hitchhiked the length and breadth of New Zealand. The result was A Land of Two Halves, a portrait of the country and its many contradictions that is as telling today as it was then. For as Joe says in his reintroduction to this classic road trip, the name...

Immerse yourself in the enthralling world of hunting with Hunting Life by Peter Ryan. This masterfully crafted collection of essays offers a deep dive into the thrilling adventures and introspective moments that define the life of a hunter. From the jagged peaks of New Zealand's Southern Alps to the parched deserts and verdant jungles of Africa, Ryan paints a vivid...

Not knowing if your dad will live through the night is not something that any young son or daughter should ever have to endure. I experienced this nightmare more times than I care to remember. In the winter of 1969, a 14-year-old Whangarei schoolboy called Keg went to a weekend rugby tournament and came home with a sore throat. Soon...

The Baby Boomers were the first generation to unite globally through music, culture, and action, challenging both personal and political power structures. Growing up in a post-war world, yet living under the constant threat of the Cold War and the increasing horror of the Vietnam War, they became the voice of protest. They were loud, they were visible, and they...

Every copy of a Very French Affair sold on Book Hero has been personally signed by the author with a handwritten whimsical note. Secure your copy today! Whether you are contemplating your second act, a fellow Francophile, introvert or gourmande, whether you are a romantic, a clown, or just a lover of life in all its messy wonder, I dare...

The most capped All Black in history speaks for the record about his storied career, spanning four World Cups, nine Super Rugby finals and 153 appearances in the black jersey. THE NO. 1 NEW ZEALAND BESTSELLER 'A modern-day Colin Meads' - Steve Hansen 'The ultimate winner' - Scott Robertson 'A legend of the game' - Richie McCaw After making his...

The true tale of how one woman's lifelong obsession became a midlife mermaid odyssey, from the irrepressibly witty author of Tinderbox and Things I Learned at Art School. Forty, freckled and facing infertility, Megan Dunn hears the siren call that reawakens her lifelong obsession, and sets off in pursuit of mermaids. Real mermaids. From Coney Island and Copenhagen to Courtenay...

A DEEPLY PERSONAL AND UNIVERSALLY RESONANT STORY OF HOW ONE CHILD’S EARLY YEARS TRANSFORMED EVERYTHING HIS MOTHER THOUGHT SHE KNEW — ABOUT SYSTEMS, CARE AND HERSELF.When Karina McHardy’s son was diagnosed with severe autism as a toddler, she devoted herself to nurturing his potential. But as it became clear the support he needed didn’t exist, she stepped away from the...

Art historian Mary Kisler grew up in the early 1950s with a father who talked little, whose affection she cherished and whose anger she feared. She later came to understand the trauma that lay behind his dark moods: rejection and violence in his childhood and the brutal experience of being a prisoner of war in Italy and then Germany from...

The daring adventures of a New Zealand search and rescue Pilot. The daring adventures of a New Zealand search and rescue Pilot. 'Somewhere, up ahead, a person is bleeding, but you have to put that out of your mind. Your job is negotiating with time and space. You have your clock, that person has their own, and in the end,...

The striking debut memoir from award-winning doctor and writer, Emma Espiner. "I don't know why medicine felt like coming home but, for some reason, it fits. I keep thinking about how the tohu, once awarded, can never be taken back. There are few things in life that emphatic. Better not fuck it up." From award-winning writer Dr Emma Espiner comes...

Growing up behind the family façade. Brave, explosive, and thought-provoking, this is a powerful memoir from a critically acclaimed writer. 'It's material, make a story out of it,' was the mantra Charlotte Grimshaw grew up with in her famous literary family. But when her life suddenly turned upside-down, she needed to re-examine the reality of that material. The more she...

This compelling tell-all reveals the realities of working as a doctor in New Zealand. Fast-paced and darkly funny, it chronicles ten years of working in medicine - treating the victims of the Whakaari White Island eruption, being on the frontline during the pandemic, dealing with chronic understaffing - and sheds a light on where and why the health system is...

In this personal account, Lilia Tarawa exposes the shocking secrets of the cult, with its rigid rules and oppressive control of women. She describes her fear when her family questioned Gloriavale's beliefs and practices. When her parents fled with their children, Lilia was forced to make a desperate choice: to stay or to leave. No matter what she chose, she...

The Remarkable Story of How One Man Defied the Odds At 18, Paul Wood thought he had lost everything. He had committed an act he knew would send him to prison for many years. To a young man like Paul, it might as well have been for the rest of his life. Plunged into a nightmarish world of extreme violence,...

The Cause of Death by Dr Cynric Temple-Camp is a captivating exploration of the macabre and mysterious cases encountered over an illustrious 30-year career as a provincial pathologist. Journey into the world of forensic pathology where each story unveils the often gruesome and bizarre ways in which life can come to an abrupt end. From the chilling instances of spontaneous...

The memoir of the characterful restaurateur and national treasure, Fleur Sullivan, is Fleur. A South Island legend, Fleur is the culinary maven responsible for not one but two iconic local restaurants—Olivers in Clyde and the eponymous Fleurs Place in Moeraki. Now, at the age of 72, she's running a third, The Loan and Merc, in her hometown of Oamaru. Her...

Len Lye, the artist and film-maker, wrote this colourful account of his early years in New Zealand. It covers his most intense experiences during the first two-dozen years of his life, including his childhood years at the Cape Campbell lighthouse, his passion for drawing, his exploration of sex, and his discovery of modern art. Lye documented his experiences in crisp,...

Entertaining and Revealing In this frank and inspiring memoir, Neven talks about his early life, and his extraordinary success as a rugby player. A lock and number eight, Neven represented Wellington at a provincial level, before achieving the ultimate in New Zealand rugby—wearing the revered All Black jersey. His contemporaries included Tiny White, Don Clarke, Wilson Whineray, Kelvin Tremain, Colin...

In 1994, director Peter Jackson released the film Heavenly Creatures, based on a famous 1950s matricide committed in New Zealand by two teenage girls embroiled in an obsessive relationship. This film launched Jackson's international career. It also forever changed the life of Anne Perry, an award-winning, bestselling crime writer, who at the time of the film's release was publicly outed...

The Dwarf Who Moved and Other Remarkable Tales From a Life in the Law offers a profound glimpse into the life and career of New Zealand's pre-eminent criminal barrister, Sir Peter Williams QC. Known for his fearless advocacy in the courtroom, Williams reflects on the transformative periods within New Zealand's judicial and penal systems. Throughout his distinguished career, Sir Peter...

What do you do when your father can’t say the word love, when words like 'I cherish you' ring like a threat and happiness hinges on who has the upper hand? And how does a daughter reconcile with such a father on his deathbed? This could be any family—but when the patriarch is a Dalmatian New Zealander the result can...

As a boy, Tony had drawn maps and diagrams and medieval battle scenes. He'd read fairy tales and been enchanted by local sites of Māori history. As a young man, he was a vagrant on the streets of Paris, was twice imprisoned, spent time in a mental hospital, battled destructive addictions, and experienced unrequited love and loneliness. All of this...

A Natural Year follows writer Wendyl Nissen's life in the peaceful New Zealand countryside over one year. It's the story of what happens in her garden, her kitchen, and her life over twelve months, and the thoughts inspired by each passing season. She writes about the freedom that she has found in ageing and the joy that comes along with...

Text Two Hundred And Fifty Ways To Start An Essay About Captain Cook

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....

'A book of great openness and courage' - Sir John Kirwan Country boy and television host Matt Chisholm seemed to have it all. With a plum job on TV and a great family, his future looked bright. But behind the happy facade, Matt was barely coping, driving himself into the ground with work and withdrawing from everyone but his family....

Updated with new chapters and written with her trademark deadpan humour, Urzila's memoir is full of ripping yarns about both the big and the little things in life. Urzila's accidental beginning in stand-up has led to an incredibly successful career in comedy, with regular gigs on Channel 10's Have you Been Paying Attention? in Australia and 7 Days in New...

Lotta Dann was in trouble—her fun drinking habit had slowly morphed into an obsessive hunger for wine. One bottle a night was never quite enough. When she tried to cut down, she found it nearly impossible to have an alcohol-free day. Everyone around could see her drinking, but no one realised what a serious problem it was. She was high-functioning,...

'An unforgettable love story set in perilous circumstances. It is a reminder that even in the most horrific times love will find a way and ultimately conquer. I can't recommend it enough.' Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz In the heart of Nazi-occupied Europe, two people meet fleetingly in a chance encounter. One is an underground resistance fighter;...

This memoir is the story of my extraordinary childhood and its effects on my adult life. It covers eight early years living in a large Victorian house with my younger siblings, dominated and manipulated by a psychotic nanny who was addicted to opioids. She abused us physically, mentally, and sexually, but we were so entirely in thrall to her that...

A modern love story: whakapapa, archaeology, art and heartbreak. A memoir of a turbulent time - and a chess game that broke all the rules. In 1989, two married women met by chance. They instantly hit it off, but little did they know that their new relationship would turn their lives upside-down. This is the true story of that relationship,...

A significant new biography of Ralph Hotere provides the compelling life story of this major New Zealand artist. Vincent O'Sullivan's compelling, nuanced portrait of the great New Zealand artist Ralph Hotere brings the man and his art to life. Ralph Hotere (Te Aupouri and Te Rarawa; 1931-2013) was one of Aotearoa's most significant modern artists. Hotere invited the poet, novelist...

An unforgettable, insightful and deeply humane memoir from a New Zealand paediatrician who has committed his life to the care and wellbeing of young people. ‘There is always a baby for whom you can feel happy at what they have achieved, or sad when things go wrong. There are always parents to help through an incredible journey . . ....

A powerful new collection of non-fiction by contemporary Māori writers. Nga Kupu Wero brings together a bounty of essays, articles, commentary and creative non-fiction on the political, cultural and social issues that challenge us today. From colonisation to identity, from creativity to mātauranga Māori, over 60 writers explore the power of the word. Accept the challenge of the wero. Join...

Inspiring peanut butter recipes plus everything you might want to know about your favourite spread and the characters behind the much-loved Pic's brand. Recipes and more from Pic's Peanut Butter. As well as giving a fabulous range of tasty peanut butter recipes, both sweet and savoury, this book tells stories about how the brand got started. From the early days,...

Theophila Pratt was born Honey Faithful in Gloriavale, the fundamentalist Christian community that has been at the centre of decades of allegations of sexual and physical assault, and workplace exploitation. Raised in this isolated community, where a small contingent of men held all the power, Theo found herself questioning the hostile and controlling environment in which she lived, where women...

Sophie Merkens takes us on a journey across Aotearoa, meeting 35 inspiring women who find meaning and connection through food. From mothers, gardeners, hunters, chefs, and hobbyists, their conversations dive deep into how food influences their lives. Grow - Wahine Finding Connection Through Food is a refreshingly honest and insightful book about women, food, and connection. Food is a central...

Neville Peat has been a New Zealand writer for over 50 years, and during his working life has visited many of the islands within Aotearoa's marine realm, from the tropics to Antarctica. This book is about these islands, including Stewart Island/Rakiura, Anchor Island in Tamatea/Dusky Sound, Kapiti Island and Tiritiri Matangi in the Hauraki Gulf. Further afield, the book also...

An extraordinary memoir of an immigrant son's story of a better future. In 1962, a Samoan family journeyed to New Zealand—a country immigrants once called 'the land of milk and honey'—in search of a better life. Instead, their eldest son, Vitale, arrived in an era of dawn raids by police and immigration officials, and faced endless racism and bullying at...

A heart-wrenching multigenerational family memoir by an excommunicated member of the Exclusive Brethren. After coming out as gay, Craig Hoyle was excommunicated from the New Zealand Exclusive Brethren and forced to say goodbye to his family forever. The conservative sect was everything he'd ever known—a childhood where television, pop music, sports, and even pets were against the rules. Joining public...