New Zealand Biographies

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...

Gardens teach us to live in the moment. They nourish us, provide solace in grief, and offer sanctuary from the stresses of modern life. In a celebration of the healing power of nature, New Zealand gardening guru Lynda Hallinan focuses on the gentle delights that bring joy to our backyards, from birdsong to seasonal beauty. Slowing down, letting go, working...

I never did see huia foraging about on the trunk of a tall tree fern, but I knew a man who had. Ray Ching, 2024 The beautiful forest-dwelling huia, presumed extinct these hundred or more years, hold a special place in the affections of New Zealanders. The old forests are silent now to the call of these beautiful birds, the...

A raw and honest story of alcoholism, recovery and courage in the face of loss Hayley Holt grew up in the public eye. Now it's time to share her side of the story. After breaking free from the strict dance schedule of her childhood, in her late teens Hayley found freedom at the bottom of a bottle: she became confident,...

From the writer who brought you Tinderbox, a book about a woman trying to write a book, comes Things I Learned at Art School, a memoir by a woman who has never kept a diary. Until now. Part memoir, part essay collection, Megan Dunn's ingenious, moving, hilariously personal Things I Learned at Art School tells the story of her early...

A milestone collection to celebrate a milestone event - 50 years publishing in NZ! To celebrate 50 years of publishing in Aotearoa New Zealand, The Penguin New Zealand Anthology brings together 50 enthralling stories from some of the country's finest writers. From established authors to new, emerging names, these stories track the changing styles, voices and preoccupations explored through the...

Funny, elegiac and chilling, these essays from award-winning New Zealand writer Mohamed Hassan blend storytelling, memoir, and non-fiction to map the experience of being Muslim in the 21st century. This is the breakout non-fiction book from award-winning New Zealand writer Mohamed Hassan. From Cairo to Takapuna, Athens to Istanbul, How to be a Bad Muslim maps the personal and public...

Farmer Kane Brisco's tools for the physical and mental strains of life on the land. 'Kane's journey of wisdom is both relatable and of high value' - DOUG AVERY, The Resilient Farmer When Kane Brisco was at his lowest ebb, he could barely even look at his stock. He stood in the middle of a paddock, with water flowing over...

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 Making of a New Zealand Coaching Legend In the compelling narrative of Steve Hansen: The Legacy, veteran rugby writer Gregor Paul expertly chronicles the life and career of Sir Steve Hansen, one of the most revered coaches in the history of New Zealand rugby. This engrossing exploration details Hansen's journey from his modest beginnings as a policeman in Mosgiel...

Why cook at home when you can order in? Only 50 years ago, pure methamphetamine was legally prescribed in New Zealand to anyone looking for a boost. But it wasn't long before P was rebranded as the most dangerous and destructive drug in the world - and New Zealanders were cemented as among its biggest users. With dry wit and...

Yarns on a life lived at a million miles, from beloved broadcaster, podcaster and go-getter Brodie Kane First up: this is absolutely not a guide to life. I've done some impressive stuff, but I've also slept on the floor of an old Greek man's house and lost my dignity in the Brunei jungle. I say yes to everything this life...

Funny and heartwarming stories from a Northland country vet In the rolling green hills of Kaipara, Scottish vet Rory Dean and his two fox terriers, Scrappy and Alfie, are on call day and night for whichever animal emergency awaits. In Adventures of a Country Vet, Rory shares stories of the livestock and pets he's cared for as a rural vet...

An Exquisite Legacy is a compelling biography that delves deep into the life and achievements of George Vernon Hudson, one of New Zealand's most celebrated naturalist-artists. Written by his grandson, Dr George Gibbs, a prominent entomologist himself, this book offers an intimate and richly detailed portrait of Hudson's extraordinary dedication to the study and illustration of New Zealand’s insect fauna....

Lost and Found by Toni Street is an inspiring and heartfelt memoir that delves into a life marked by unimaginable loss, profound love, and unwavering resilience. Toni Street, a celebrated New Zealand television personality, might be known for her friendly on-air demeanour, but behind her cheerful exterior lies a story steeped in heartache and perseverance. From the tragedies that struck...

'Few ministers have such influence and make the impact and contribution Steven Joyce did. We knew him as Mr Fix-It; the press gallery called him the Minister for Everything; but the public saw it more simply. He was the guy who got the stuff they wanted done, and he did it in spades and with style.' - Sir John Key...

“She writes just like she talks, and her autobiography is full of glorious little anecdotes relayed in that blunt, often hilarious, style.” - Sunday Star Times “A rollicking story of a life well lived” - Petra Bagust “This is the story of becoming Suzy D - in all her determined, triumphant and unabashed singularity” - John Campbell Susan Devoy loved...

In Tikanga, authors Francis and Kaiora Tipene delve deeply into the harmonious blend of traditional Māori values and contemporary living, offering readers a rare and insightful glimpse into their daily lives. This enlightening book paints a vivid picture of how the Tipenes incorporate the rich and profound aspects of te ao Māori into every facet of their existence. Following the...

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...

Diagnosis and death; uncertainty and urgent laxatives; sleep deprivation and synthetic drawstring trousers: this debut work by Izzy Lomax-Sawyers chronicles her first year as a tired junior doctor at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital. How can Izzy be a thorough and compassionate doctor while still leaving work before 7 p.m.? How does she uphold dignity and autonomy for people whose liberty has...

Yesterday When I Was Young

At 0900 on Sunday 01 July, my CO handed me three letters to read. The first was from the Governor General, the second from the Prime Minister, and the third was from the Minister of Defence. These letters informed me that I had been awarded the Victoria Cross for New Zealand (V.C.). Cpl Bill (Willie) Apiata, V.C. Corporal Willie Apiata...

Unmasking Monsters by Chook Henwood is a gripping memoir that offers readers a raw and authentic insight into the life of one of New Zealand's legendary detectives. Set against the backdrop of 1980s South Auckland, the book dives into the harrowing story of a serial rapist dubbed "The Ghost" by the police, who seemed to strike with impunity, leaving the...

This is the incredible story of Silva McLeod, the first Tongan woman to become an airline pilot, told with frankness and wit by Silva herself. Silva was a Tongan girl from a small island with little hope of anything beyond getting married and having babies. Her dreams of becoming an airline pilot seemed just that — dreams — until Ken...

The Farm is a lyrical and entertaining journey to the heart of rural life in New Zealand from one of our greatest living writers. When Bruce Ansley visited a friend on a sheep farm on Banks Peninsula, they pointed out a property for sale, down by the water. Down a drive curving through sycamores, oaks, and rhododendrons, there was a...

A deeply moving and profoundly uplifting story about living with joy, even in the face of adversity. Part memoir and part masterclass in finding hope and joy in the face of unthinkable challenges. This isn't a book about cancer, it's a book about living – Jaquie Brown The Life of Dai by Dai Henwood and Jaquie Brown tells the inspiring...

"If being a war correspondent can be addictive, this book might just leave you hooked. From brushes with landmines to Ukrainian hotdogs, Lisette's celebrated storytelling vividly brings to life the powerful stories behind her reports." - Mike McRoberts 'I woke up every day expecting to fall asleep in a different country. A blur of breaking news, airports, body armour, border...

In Polkinghorne, literary journalist Steve Braunias takes readers on an extraordinary and often chilling journey through the most high-profile murder case in modern New Zealand history. With unparalleled access to the key players, Braunias offers readers his unique insight into the investigation, the trial, and the astonishing revelations that kept the New Zealand public utterly transfixed. The death of Pauline...

Among Kinabuhi sa Aotearoa is a glimpse into the lives of 14 Filipinos—the third-largest Asian group in Aotearoa— trailblazers who build community in their adopted home, uphold the struggles of their people in the Philippines and stand in solidarity with tangata whenua. This collection brings together a diverse group of artists, academics and activists engaged in the practice of radical...

Astonishing - Kiran Dass, Kete Miriam Lancewood's first book, Woman in the Wilderness, told her story of living for seven years in the wilderness of New Zealand with her husband, hunting and gathering, and roaming the mountains like nomads. Miriam and Peter left New Zealand to explore other wild places. They walked 2000 km through the forests of Europe and...

Wild horses spend their lives building and maintaining social bonds, moving together in synchrony, their communication constant and subtle. In domestication, we isolate them – move them from paddock to stable to yard – separating them from their companions for our convenience, then find them fragile, anxious and difficult to handle. An immersive and transporting memoir, Perfectly Themselves offers intimate...

John Summers’ worst nightmare is getting lost in the bush. He has always carefully – myopically, even – followed the track. Death lurks at the edge of his fear, as well as cold, hunger, loneliness and even humiliation. But what is the experience of being lost in the New Zealand bush actually like? Summers talks to those who have survived...

Things I remember, or was told is the memoir of outspoken Wellington GP Carol Shand, who since the early 1960s has spent her life fighting for change in medical, social and legal issues that she considered important: maternity care, access to contraception, abortion law change, and improved response to sexual assault complaints. Carol is the daughter of Claudia and Tom...

In 1966, engineers had a mainly technical role. Fast forward to 2016, and advancing technology had revolutionised the profession, allowing more comprehensive and sophisticated investigations, testing, and analyses. In addition, changes in legislation and the expectations of society have meant that civil engineers are now expected to become involved in public consultation and consider the environmental impacts of projects. Engineering...

Northern Irish-born, Kiwi by choice, Nic's lived through cancer, the death of her three-year-old daughter Kenzie, Parkinson's, and a heart transplant—yet, somehow, she still gets up swinging. Out of that chaos came Kenzie's Gift, the charity she founded to help children and young people whose parent or sibling has died or is seriously ill. Two decades on, it's supported thousands...

In this unforgettable first book of poetry by Haro Lee, television—like love—binds us, liberates us, inspires, infuriates, and illuminates us. Watching Television in a Love Motel is a poetic chronicle of Haro’s time in Aotearoa, South Korea, and the United States of America. In four parts—‘Daytime Television’, ‘Primetime Television’, ‘Late Night Television’, and ‘Graveyard Slot’—she looks at her past, family,...

MISHAP 1968 – Caught in a sudden violent storm, the Wahine ferry foundered after running aground on Barrett’s Reef, attempting to enter Wellington Harbour. Battered mercilessly by the elements, the Wahine was listing heavily to starboard when the order to abandon ship was given. The tragic events that followed became our nation’s worst modern maritime disaster. MISERY 1945 – Struck...

Straight Arrows and Fast Bullets invites you to nock an arrow or load your rifle and prepare to experience some old-school hunting tales, told by a real character who has devoted his life to hunting! From his childhood growing up in Hamilton in the 1970s, Peter Hill has been obsessed with hunting. He first mastered archery and eventually progressed to...

New Zealand's history is peppered with mysterious tales of otherworldly beings, strange sightings, inexplicable disappearances and unusual crimes. While some of these stories have been handed down through generations, many of them hail from more recent times. The one thing they all have in common is that they have all endured despite repeated attempts to solve or explain them. In...

Gordon McLauchlan is a master storyteller adept at recognising a good yarn when he sees it. Following the success of his Great Tales from New Zealand History, his new collection leads us down uncharted country lanes and tempts us with many little-known tales from New Zealand's farming and rural past, and also explores many aspects of New Zealand and being...

Crazy. Bold. Fearless. Parris Goebel was destined to make her mark. Young Queen is the autobiography of a dancer with a dream... a young Polynesian girl who grew up in New Zealand and went on to conquer the hip hop world. In this honest memoir, Parris Goebel shares the extraordinary story of how she went from high-school dropout to award-winning...

Dougal Rillstone was born in Gore, close to the Mataura River, over seventy years ago. The river was both swimming pool and playground during his childhood. One summer’s evening, while he stood chest deep in a long pool, facing downstream towards the fading light, he became mesmerised by the sight of rippling rings left by rising trout on the otherwise...

Former editor Jenny Lynch takes the wraps off the unreported side of life in print, explodes myths, unearths secrets and shows that even on seemingly conservative publications such as the New Zealand Woman's Weekly things were seldom exactly as they seemed. Her memoir, aptly titled Under the Covers, is a revealing account of what went on behind the closed doors...

Jan Cameron lived for swimming. An Olympic silver medallist at the 1964 Tokyo Games, she later became one of the most respected swim coaches in Australasia, guiding athletes to success at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and beyond. Known as "the Godmother of Australian and New Zealand Swimming," her influence on the sport was profound and enduring. Kevin Cameron lived for...

I was a lost little boy, trapped in a world where I didn't belong, one that would tear me apart and build me back into someone new . . . Twenty-three-year-old Josh Komen is on track to represent New Zealand in running at the next Commonwealth Games when he is diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. In a single moment, the...

A beautifully illustrated combination of personal stories of alpine adventures over five decades and reflections on the spirituality of the mountain world. From student days till retirement, Ron Hay has found adventure and refreshment of spirit amid the peaks and valleys of the Southern Alps. "A thoughtful, well-observed contemplation of fifty years of climbs. Written with flair, appreciation for natural...

Hot on the heels of the critically acclaimed The Kiwi Runners' Family Tree: Volume One 1800s to 1999 comes this second volume, showcasing the inspirational Kiwi running stars of our millennium to date. The majority of their stories are based on personal interviews and intertwined with those who have gone before them. There is a robustness to this family tree...

The Kiwi Runners' Family Tree tells the stories of over one hundred running-related athletes and coaches, focusing on the interconnections between the generations as well as the important relationships within those generations. This family tree has well-grounded roots, a strong trunk, and a vast amount of experience, knowledge, and inspiration coursing through its branches. The book expertly tells the many...

After spending many years in the corporate world, during which time he became aware of how easy it is to become trapped in an unsatisfying workplace, Brett Ashley is clear that the most important lesson he learned involved creating an environment in which everyone thrived. Although he didn’t always have the support of his employers, he persevered and before long...

When beginning her career in Palliative Medicine, the author first met Dr Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. This meeting introduced her to the importance of being aware of one's own emotional issues when working with people who are suffering. As Elisabeth said, "You need to deal with your own sh*t first". Thank you, Elisabeth relates stories of people at the end of life...

Tales of Niue Nukututaha is a collection of twelve stories, presented in both English and Niuean, set on the island of Niue. This collection showcases the author's reinterpretation of myth, legend, and storytelling from her native land. Each story is lavishly illustrated by Niuean artist Lange Taufelila.

When Adrienne was first diagnosed with cardiomyopathy she asked, “What is that?” She had never heard of the condition and had trouble finding information. Take Heart is designed to help others with cardiomyopathy and heart failure. As well as telling her story, Adrienne describes how, over time, she learnt to manage—what worked and what didn’t. During her journey, she met...

Drawing on her own family experience and insights from her PhD inquiry, Celine Kearney travelled around Aotearoa to interview New Zealanders with Scottish and Irish backgrounds. Southern Celts uses autoethnography and narrative to explore how these New Zealanders live out their cultural connections to their Irish and Scottish backgrounds. Interviews cross hemispheres and generations as well as geographic and cultural...

So Many Islands brings together stories from the distant shores of the island communities in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Pacific. Giving voice to their challenges and triumphs, these writers paint a vibrant portrait of what it is like to live, love and lose the things most precious to them on the small islands they call home. This enchanting...

Samoan Queer Lives is a collection of personal stories from one of the world’s unique indigenous queer cultures. The first of its kind, this book features a collection of autobiographical pieces by fa`afafine, transgender, and queer people of Sāmoa, one of the original continuous indigenous queer cultures of Polynesia and the Pacific Islands. Featuring 14 autobiographical stories from fa`afafine and...

Samoan Queer Lives is a collection of personal stories from one of the world’s unique indigenous queer cultures. The first of its kind, this book features a collection of autobiographical pieces by fa`afafine, transgender, and queer people of Sāmoa, one of the original continuous indigenous queer cultures of Polynesia and the Pacific Islands. Featuring 14 autobiographical stories from fa`afafine and...

Reflections on the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, through a re-reading of Albert Camus' great novel La Peste (1947). Just before midnight on 25 March 2020, the country entered its first Covid lockdown, and for seven weeks in the great stillness of the deserted town, the pandemic was everyone's business. On the first morning, Brian Flaherty pulled Albert Camus'...

Told with candour and humour, Olive Oil the New Zealand Way is part inspirational memoir, part case study in how to make a go of lifestyle farming. It is a must-read for anyone nuts enough to give growing olives in the New Zealand situation a go.

I know the pain at the gym is nowhere near as bad as the pain of depression... so I suck up the workout pain and push myself that bit harder. Continuing ill-health and countless surgeries sent Auckland businessman Dave Burt spiralling down into the depths of despair and hopelessness. Something had to change. With a mate, he enrolled in a...

Hold my hand, Rosie. Don't let go tells the poignant story of Rosie, a shy young teenager, whose experimentation with alcohol leads to a gripping battle with alcoholism. When Rosie's parents finally realise that their beloved daughter is struggling with her drinking, she is already firmly in the grip of the disease. This true story unfolds over a decade, chronicling...

One man's memoir of World War II which took him from the Blitz to the jungles of Burma, to the devastation of Hiroshima. I consider myself lucky to have survived the global carnage still myself - a reluctant soldier who had to go to war, who only ever wanted peace for everyone. - Brian Hennessy Brian immigrated to New Zealand...

Double-Edged Sword is a survival story like no other. In 2003, Simonne Butler's violent partner, high on methamphetamine, cut off both her hands with a samurai sword. Her hands were reattached in a groundbreaking marathon surgery and she spent the next decade healing her mind, body, and spirit. Despite five years in an extremely physically and emotionally abusive relationship, Simonne...

Creating Space – An Experience of Gender describes the extraordinary work of Jane Prichard, in her own words. It tells how Jane’s advocacy for women and girls in Aotearoa New Zealand began. The book illustrates how Jane established and supported women’s networks. It explains the importance of the new organisations set up as an action outcome of the Fourth World...

This biography is the lively, persuasive and colourful story of a talented bisexual man who had to leave New Zealand to find a life as a painter on his own terms. Now almost 95, still resident in Paris, he is the oldest survivor of his extraordinary generation of creative New Zealanders, and perhaps a missing link—the one who got away...

In Cohousing for Life, architect Robin Allison describes her journey from lonely mother of two in the suburbs to determined driver of the development of New Zealand's first cohousing community. It is a very personal story of a collective endeavour, a heroic journey of despair and triumph, as the obstacles mount and success at times feels far from certain. Cohousing...

This is the moving story of a woman who, throughout her life, has refused to be defined by what others think she can or cannot do. Minnie Baragwanath was diagnosed, at the age of 15, with a congenital condition that left her legally blind. However, she did not meekly accept the limitations that blindness might have imposed on her: instead,...

The author looks at her life as a series of ‘bits’, memorable episodes which, when joined together, form a pattern both fascinating and thought-provoking. From early life in an unusual rural community, she describes growing up in a large family with money troubles, limited educational opportunities, a lovable but somewhat eccentric father, and a determination to follow dreams. These led...

Bill Birch was the quiet achiever of New Zealand politics. A trusted lieutenant to Prime Ministers Muldoon, Bolger and Shipley, Birch was at the heart of the action across a turbulent quarter-century of political and social change. From 'Think Big' and the Employment Contracts Act to overhauls of immigration, health, ACC, fiscal management, industry training, electricity markets, and producer boards,...

At a time when consumers are looking for more and more connection with the foods they eat, Michael Barker proudly shares the Barker’s of Geraldine journey, the people, the innovations and the philosophies that still guide them. This is a story of entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, fun, dedication to community, and finding a way to bring it all together to build...

Qatar? It sounds like a bad lung condition! was Marguerette Heding's first reaction to her husband about moving there. Back in July 2008, this ultra-conservative Islamic country bordering Saudi Arabia wasn't on anyone's radar and the Lonely Planet Guide called it 'the dullest place on earth'. She didn't want to go - but apparently Allah had different plans... All Veils...

Dean Buchanan is one of New Zealand's best-known artists. From an early age, he showed immense talent, painting large oils that demonstrated both technical brilliance and a close affinity with the natural world. During the past thirty years, he has become probably New Zealand's most prolific (and also most affordable) painter, as well as one of the most instantly recognisable....

‘We are only a small and young nation, but we are one and all a band of brothers and we march forward with a union of hearts and wills to a common destiny.’ — Michael Joseph Savage, Prime Minister of New Zealand, upon the outbreak of WWII in 1939 Voices of World War II shows the human side of war...

It’s a sad fact of fly fishing that there is no prescriptive manual for ensuring success. It is an activity that defies simple evaluation, with enough variables to leave even the ‘experts’ scratching their heads from time to time. For example, why is it that a trout will respond to a certain fly one day, but ignore it entirely in...

Come for a ride with me, and see what I see, down in the dirt and sweat and horseshit, right in the belly of the work of a racing stable. These are my real people, and this is the life I would lead if I hadn’t been looking out for my father, a child of the Depression. Be a teacher,...

Back to the bush with the bestselling author of Sam The Trap Man. Sam Gibson's best-selling debut, Sam The Trap Man, introduced us to a natural-born storyteller with a deep enthusiasm for the ngahere. Now, Sam takes us back to the bush with another round of cracking yarns and hard-case characters, as well as a guide to edible native plants...

Traces of Aotearoa is a multidisciplinary anthology of poetry, essays, and visual art by women writers and artists responding to contemporary life in Aotearoa New Zealand. The collection reflects on the lasting impacts of the pandemic, environmental uncertainty, and shifting identities, offering a thoughtful archive of women's creative practice at the southern edge of the Pacific.

A new edition of the bestselling 2024 memoir by a former NZSAS commander, on serving in Afghanistan over four deployments and operating at the edge of his limits. 'Frighteningly, devastatingly real.' - The Post In 2011, following the Taliban siege on Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel, an SAS soldier identified only as Serviceman J was awarded New Zealand's second highest military honour...

The bestselling biography of cartoonist Murray Ball, creator of Footrot Flats. In Murray Ball: A Cartoonist's Life, Murray's son Mason Ball shares all the hits and misses and long years of hard graft that went into what would become the wildly successful creative enterprise: Footrot Flats. From his unique viewpoint and with candid honesty, Mason reveals the real-life backstory to...

What do you do, when your grief has no memory and you are haunted by love that was never there?From the tropics of Jamaica to the affluent North Shore of New Zealand's largest city, Robyn's childhood looks like paradise.Her adult life seems successful, too - until she stands for election to a city council. After years of local leadership, the...