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New from the best selling author of WHYKICKAMOOCOWand RETURN TO WHYKICKAMOOCOW. Were Ches and Dale real people? Is a Swanndri named after a waterproof water bird? Why not Lemon and Thames? Does Speights really stand for Superb P*** Enjoyed In Great Hotels Throughout Southland? And what's so odd about Oddfellows? In the same way that Kiwis don't think about the origins of our placenames, the names of many of the products we buy and the shops we buy them from are a mystery to us. This appealing, whimisical book is a light social history in the style of Whykickamoocow. Instead of placenames it delves into the stories behind some of New Zealand's iconic products, stores and brands.
Have you ever wondered how the town you live in got its name? Why Bulls and not 'Sheep' or 'Dogs'? Is Raglan named after a style of sleeve? Why name a river after dog dung? Most New Zealanders have no idea where the name of the town they live in came from. This book tells the tales behind some of the most intriguing place names in this country. Written in an accessible and interesting style, this STYLISH LITTLe book is entertaining as well as educational, and provides glimpses into the history of New Zealand through the eyes of those people tasked with naming our suburbs, towns, cities and landmarks. Illustrations consist of modern and historical photographs of signage that features the names of the towns.
"From basic stone cottages in barren-looking countryside to pretty coastal villas, romantic churches and small-town taverns, New Zealand is full of buildings whose back stories have been lost over the generations. Jane King's photographs and Nicola McCloy's words weave the facts back together to present gripping stories of these places and their ups and downs over time. The strength of women, often left to fend for their families with little help or support, and the enterprise of early New Zealanders feature in this fascinating book...Find out about places as diverse as the old School of Mines in Thames, Rush Munroe's Ice Cream Garden in Hastings; Couldrey House at Wenderholm, near Auckland; the National Tobacco Company in Napier; Mt Cook Police Barracks in Wellington; Langlois-Eteveneaux House in Akaroa; Donovan's General Store in Okarito; and the Empire Tavern in Dunedin"--Publisher information.
Lisa Tamati takes on some of the world's most extreme ultraraces in an inspiring look at the reality of a long-distance runner Lisa Tamati gets asked one question more than any other: why do you do it? Here she attempts to answer that question and many more about ultramarathon running. In the past few years, Lisa has taken part in some of the most grueling races on earth. Not content with having run the Badwater Ultramarathon once, she's been back and done it a second time. She's also completed the Gobi March and a race in the Egyptian Sahara. However, none of these could have prepared her for her greatest challenge to date--La Ultra, a 138 miles nonstop race over the two Himalayan mountain passes. This book tells the stories behind these races and provides plenty of advice for runners of all levels and distances. Filled with training tips, gear lists, information on nutrition and supplements, advice on mental preparation and, most importantly, a focus on how to keep healthy while training and racing, it will inspire and motivate runners and nonrunners alike.
Major General Sir Andrew Russell commanded the NZ Mounted Rifles Brigade at Gallipoli then went on to serve as commander of the New Zealand Division on the Western Front. As such he was the New Zealand army' s most senior officer during two key periods in the country's military history. The name of his Australian counterpart, General Sir John Monash, is well known to many in his country while Russell remains all but unknown in New Zealand. This biography sets out to change that.
Kitty's mother, Marina, is both utterly beguiling and terrifyingly embarrassing, and more often than not Kitty can only gaze on her antics with awe and toe-curling trepidation. But as Kitty grows up it becomes clear that perhaps Marina isn't the most exemplary of parents, and that sometimes a girl might have to put herself first. Sophie Dahl writes with a keen eye, a warm heart and wonderful lyricism about a coming-of-age that's quite unlike any other.
"Ajax is a working dog trained to sniff out the nests of endangered kea in remote parts of the South Island. His trainer, Corey Mosen, then places cameras in and around the nests to monitor the kea and any predators that might attack them. Together, Corey and Ajax traverse the steep high country throughout the South Island searching out kea nests. Their part in the kea conservation effort is essential and both Ajax and Corey can rightly be called conservation heroes. This heart-warming story describes how Ajax was trained to be one of the very few kea detection dogs in the world and tells of his various escapades in the unpredictable wilds of the back-country, including flying in helicopters, working in blizzards, escaping from angry wasps and sleeping out in the bitter cold. The strong connection between Ajax and Corey has proved vital to their survival and the important work that they do. Ajax is slowing down now and soon his high-country days will be over"--Back cover.
When tragedy strikes, Eva is forced to make a tough decision and fast! The choice she makes changes everything, throwing Eva and her brother into a strange world called Lyra. Among the incredible things they encounter there is a walking tree, dandelion fairies, pine-cone people and huge lion-birds. In this new world, Eva’s courage is repeatedly put to the test. When a frightening figure from her past arrives, she faces losing everything. Will she be able to find a way to save not only herself, but also her brother, their friends and the new life they have created for themselves? Guardian of the Gryphons is the first book in the League of Wildlings series. In these books, children from around the world join together to unlock their special gifts in order to protect their own homes and the mystical world of Lyra.