The Good Settler

I found this a stunning and informative read. To the degree that I ordered 6 more copies to give to family and friends. One of which is a dairy farmer at Kapuni.
It also prompted to delve into land ownership on the Awhitu Peninsula where our family farm was. Can I say some serious skulduggery went on there too

The Good Settler’ is the kind of book that stays with you long after the last page. Shaw has used his own family history to illustrate how understanding the past in its true form can open up conversations about belonging, identity and the future. The book is grouped into a series of fifteen short essays that are well written, and read more like a conversation than a historical record of early colonisation of Aotearoa New Zealand.

‘The Good Settler’ is the third book that Shaw has written about his ancestral tie to the Taranaki area, however Shaw has focused more on illuminating the ‘forgotten’ details behind some of the historical stories, shining light on details that change some of the long held ideas of what it meant to settle in Aotearoa New Zealand. Backed with historical facts and figures, Shaw writes with honesty and openness, and a willingness to address those hard conversations about our colonial past.

A great read for those who want to understand how the past shaped our present day life, and an important read for those who seek to feel more connected with their place in Aotearoa New Zealand.