June 2011

The Silence Beyond: Selected Writings by Michael King edited by Rachael King $42.00 Penguin Books
The death of Michael King, the widely respected and popular historian and author of The Penguin History of New Zealand and many other books, left a big hole in New Zealand's literature. This collection of essays, collected and introduced by his daughter Rachael King, goes some way towards addressing that silence. Wide ranging in subject matter, and often quite personal, many of these essays have not been published before. Buy now

Nga Tini Whetu: Navigating Maori Futures by Mason Durie $49.99 Huia Publishing
Bringing together twenty-five papers Durie presented at conferences between 2004 and 2010, Nga Tini Whetu discusses evolving societal trends and the transformations which must take place in order for Maori to flourish in the changing environment. Covering volatile economic conditions, advances in science and technology, the Treaty of Waitangi and health and welfare issues, this builds on Duries previous work in the same area, Nga Kahui Pou: Launching Maori Futures. Buy now

A Simple Nullity? The Wi Parata Case in New Zealand Law & History by David V Williams $49.99 Auckland University Press
In deciding the case of Wi Parata vs Bishop of Wellington regarding use and ownership of the Whitireia Block in Porirua, the New Zealand Supreme court of 1877 denied the legal status of the Treaty of Waitangi inew Zealand law, calling it "a simple nullity". Since then, this case has been cited as encapsulating the neglect of Maori rights by the law and government of New Zealand. Most recently it was used as a point of reference in the Ngati Apa case which led to the creation of the Foreshore and Seabed legislation. Williams investigates potential "legally acceptable" sources for customary rights and the underlying arguments about Maori/Pakeha relations and the nature of ownership which make it such a contentious issue. Buy now

First With The News: An Illustrated History of The Press $34.99 Christchurch Press
On the 150th anniversary of The Press, this publication documents the history of the paper with many archival pictures, including a section about the impact of the recent quakes on the paper, its workers and the city at large. Buy now

The Larnachs by Owen Marshall $39.99 Vintage
Based on the love triangle between the builder of Otago's Larnach Castle, William Larnach, his third wife Constance de Bathe Brandon and his young son Dougie, this novel brings the repressive environment of nineteenth century Dunedin and Wellington to life. Buy now

Sport 39: New Zealand New Writing 2011 edited by Fergus Barrowman $30.00 SPORT
Fiction, poetry and essays from fifty New Zealand Writers. Too much writing for one book! So this issue comes with an accompanying booklet "The Long & the Short of It" featuring six stories from the recent Sport Magazine / Unity Books competition. Buy now

The Best of Best New Zealand Poems edited by Bill Manhire & Damien Wilkins rrp $35.00 vicbooks price $32.00 Victoria University Press
Since its inception in 2000, the online poetry anthology Best New Zealand Poems has showcased some of the most exciting poetry to be written in this country. For those who prefer their words in book form, or want a good introduction to the current state of poetry in New Zealand, this selection of the very best of the poems included over the years hits the mark. Sixty poets are represented, from well-known poets like Sam Hunt, Jenny Bornholdt and Allen Curnow, to new writers whose works are not so widely known, and personal notes by contributors give some context or commentary on the selections. Buy now

Remember, if you are an undergraduate or post-graduate student at Victoria University can enter our writing competition, Scrawl. Closing date for Poetry is 5pm, Monday 11th July, for Short Stories it is 5pm, Monday 18th July. More information on our website: www.vicbooks.co.nz , or check facebook for updates.

Our Kind of Traitor by John Le Carré $30.00 Penguin Books
A chance encounter with Russian millionaire Dima while on holiday in the Carribean sets an English couple on a dangerous journey through France and Switzerland and to parts of London society whose unsavoury they never suspected. A good old-fashioned thriller, but for modern times. Buy now

Bite-size essays and stories about food from some of the best food writers from Elizabeth Acton to Colonel Wyvern. These short pieces encompass etiquette, gluttony, travel and experimentation and are the perfect size to fit into a pocket or handbag. $12.99 each