The Lifesize Guide to The New Zealand Beach by Andrew Crowe

A unique way to learn about the puzzling flotsam and jetsam - both common and strange, that gets washed up on New Zealand's beaches.

This book solves many of the mysteries of beachcombing. Life-size Guide to the New Zealand Beach allows readers to easily and accurately identify the various items... more info

Struggle Without End by Ranginui Walker

New Zealand history of cultural turmoil from a Maori perspective. Since the mid-nineteenth century, Maori have been involved in an endless struggle for justice, equality and self-determination. In this book Dr Walker provides a uniquely Maori view, not only of the events of the past two centuries but beyond to the very origins of Maori people. I think this book can appeal to many other nations on more universal spectrum... more info

Being Pakeha Now by Michael King

First published in 1985, Michael King's Being Pakeha became a gentle Kiwi classic, a strong reply both to Maori who were asserting their own identity and also to Pakeha who mumbled that they didn't have a strong culture and identity of their own. Being Pakeha Now is an updated edition that reflects on these issues and how they have changed and evolved over the last fifteen years.
I find this most fascinating because New Zealand has never had any long history on which to reflect on. In the past few decades society here has been in the trance of re-inventing itself, its cultural values, its morals, its view on life... more info

Breaking the Silence by Lorraine Moir

Well over 500 people commit suicide every year in New Zealand. Yet this is an issue that, generally, is not openly discussed in our society. This book is an attempt to break this silence, by letting those who have been affected by suicide talk about their experiences.

In Breaking the Silence, survivors of suicide attempts, alongside those who have lost children, partners, parents and friends talk about how they have coped with their trauma.

These are powerful stories, and through all of them a common belief emerges: our community desperately needs to be more open about suicide. This book offers hope with courageous stories of how people have coped with the death of a loved one, or overcome despair in their own life... more info

Crime Story by Maurice Gee

Worlds separate Brent Rosser from Ulla Peet, but a burglary gone wrong brings them into a confrontation that will change their lives - and end one of them, or perhaps both.

There are many crimes in this chilling novel - brutal murder, corporate fraud, domestic violence and spiritual bankruptcy... more info

The Penguin New Zealand Small Business Guide by Richard Higham

Is starting a business right for you?; The ways you can increase your profits; Selecting a product name; How to brush up your selling skills; Employees: Getting the right people; Ways of making the cash go round; The pluses and minuses of buying a franchise... more info

Hard to Swallow by Jeffrey M. Smith

This book is an expolosive expose of the dangers of GE food, revealing how international corporate manipulation and political collusion has allowed dangerous genetically engineered food into people's daily diet. It is written by an American about the situation in the United States, but it is hugely relevant for many other nations too. In addition, a major feature of this book is an exceptionally clear description of what genetic engineering actually is, how it works, and what the risks are. If you choose to agree or not, it is one of the most interesting and controversial topics to read about in this current day and age... more info

Brainy Babies by Dr R Fancourt

The latest research into infant brain development has come up with some startling new evidence about how we learn. A mother's touch, for instance, releases hormones in the infant's brain that help it grow. The infant brain is twice as active as its busy mother's and already two-thirds the size. Singing to your baby, however badly, triggers the baby's brain to start building vital mental language circuits...more info