The continuing myth that Canterbury was born in December 1850 with the arrival of the First Four Ships has to be dispelled. Canterbury did not, like the legendary Athena, spring 'fully-armed from the head of Zeus' (in this case, John Robert Godley) as succeeding generations after 1851 have been led to believe. So much of the initial work was carried out by the Canterbury Association Chief Surveyor Captain Thomas; so much of this effort, intentionally or unintentionally, was obscured by the settlers of the 1850s, Thomas deserves recognition as a Canterbury founder.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 296

Dimensions: 210 x 297 mm

Publication Date: 24-04-2017

Colonial Akaroa was surprisingly cosmopolitan with enclaves of speakers of Maori, English, French and German. Migration and ship-jumping further added to the cultural mix. Shipping kept Akaroa and other Banks Peninsula settlements in contact with the rest of New Zealand, supporting its trade and commerce. Despite all this worldliness, it was an isolated place. Almost an island, Akaroa evolved as a little world unto itself. John Watson has always appeared as a man for his time and place but exactly who that man was, up until now, had only been lightly outlined. Colin Amodeo presents a much fuller portrait. In these pages, we see not only a clearer picture of John Watson but also of colonial Akaroa.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 224

Dimensions: 210 x 297 mm

Publication Date: 22-11-2019