DoP Sept 2008, Christchurch Raised on a remote sheep farm in the Mid Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island, Emily Peters (1858-1927) had a remarkable career as a nurse. In the 1890s she travelled to the United Kingdom to train at Westminster Hospital. She then nursed in England and served as a nurse in the South African War and in Serbia and Egypt during World War I. In this intriguing book, two authors, Joan Woodward and Glenys Mitchell, have linked Emily Peter's surviving papers - among them a fascinating nursing casebook and a vivid war diary - into a narrative account of an extraordinary life of devotion to helping others. The book illuminates the history of nursing in England and New Zealand. It also casts a light on an emerging New Zealand nationhood and on women's emancipation. In Emily Peter's life and writings readers will see New Zealanders of British descent becoming a distinct people with their own national characteristics over a single generation.

Pages: 167

*Explores the growth and development and changes in one man’s faith over 87 years

*Debates and analyses, in the light of modern scholarship, key Christian doctrines.

*Speculates on the possible survival or otherwise of the Christian church in the world

Ewing’s life has known many twists and turns. He is still an ordained Presbyterian minister and has been a minister in another calling since 1979.
His faith has been shaped through illness for 5 years with tuberculosis, his theological training for the church, his experiences of the suicidal death of a son, the death of his wife and remarriage, the controversy over a book he wrote about the life of Jesus, his work over nearly 20 years with questioning and rebellious youth and 50 years of radio broadcasting.
Ewing has always questioned his Christian faith and some of the ancient doctrines of the Christian church in the light of the scientific age. The virgin birth of Jesus, the miracles, stories of Jesus’ resurrection and place of the Christian church in a world of many beliefs.
His aim is to encourage his readers to question what they believe and to be honest in their thinking about faith. And to encourage the adoption of a belief system that leads to a moral approach to the whole of life through this philosophical auto biography.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 191

Dimensions: 148 x 210 mm

Publication Date: 21-05-2014

Here is a series of sixty-four letters, carefully preserved by Mary McIlrath in Killinchy, Co. Down, N. Ireland.

They detail the progress of Mary’s great uncles, the two McIlrath brothers who emigrated in 1860 to New Zealand, and describe their work and achievements over fifty-five years. Historically and genealogically valuable are the frequent references to other emigrants from Killinchy and surrounding district whom they frequently met there. The news, messages and greetings included in the letters of the McIlrath brothers were sure to have been read and circulated to relatives, friends and neighbours, drawing that community at home closer together as well as closer to the one on the other side of the world. Re-reading these letters today, with their deeply personal style and content, it is easy to imagine that our ancestors are writing to us from the past.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 143

Dimensions: 210 x 210 mm

Publication Date: 01-04-2009

In this book, speaking eloquently for themselves, are more than 60 images of work by 15 top New Zealand artists with links to the Canterbury University School of Fine Arts. They include painters, sculptors, a printmaker and digital artists. Most of these images have not been previously published. The artists are also given the chance to speak for themselves, through interviews with Sally Blundell in which each artist addresses the reader directly, talking about their lives, their work, their creative processes - revealing their inner landscape. The artists and their work are placed in the context of New Zealand art history in an excellent introductory essay by Justin Paton. The intimate and striking photos of the artists were taken by award-winning photographer Diederik van Heyningen and are published here for the first time. The result is 15 fascinating and visually striking 'studio portraits' of some of New Zealand's top contemporary artists.

Pages: 120

Dimensions: 280 x 230 mm

Publication Date: 01-08-2009

Hiding in a tiny dark cave in the border triangle between Iraq, Iran and Turkey, Mustafa Darbandi is facing his fear that he may not survive. On the run because of his membership of a banned Kurdish freedom movement, he has begun an extraordinary journey. It will take him from Iraq to Turkey to Iran to Pakistan to Afghanistan and finally to New Zealand. Along the way he will be threatened by security forces, mercenaries, police, helicopters, landmines, wild wolves and even UNHCR indifference. After several years in exile he finally arrives in his new home. "In my desperation the idea crept into my mind that death was death whether I got killed or starved to death. Perhaps putting an end to my life would be preferable to being captured by mercenaries or eaten alive by wild animals..." "When I set foot on New Zealand soil, I felt born again. After I'd been uprooted from my town and village in Kurdistan, New Zealand became the bedrock of my security, offering me an opportunity to become who I am".

Bind: paperback

Publication Date: 31-07-2020

Now for something completely different! How many of you have ever looked closely at the details of the seeds of weeds? Some, we admit, are rather boring but then again, some of them are absolutely stunning. A glance at the front cover of this book reveals some of huge variation in the size and shape of seeds. Most of the seeds described and pictured are of weedy species, and the pictures show clearly the adaptations that have evolved to ensure they thrive as weeds: hooks and spines to attach the seed to wool, fleece or socks to help spread; awns that twist with wetting and drying to help bury the seed and anchor it in the soil during germination; seeds so tiny they blow like dust in the wind, or larger ones with wings or parachutes so they float on air; corky seed coats that act as life jackets in streams and lakes. This book will be useful for all workers in ecological research, pest plant management or, indeed, for everybody involved in agriculture or horticultural production. It is also of importance to anyone with a general interest in plants and the incredibly different forms that evolution has wrought. The book covers native and introduced species, and also includes seeds of species that have not, as yet, established in New Zealand but which have been intercepted in imported seed or other agricultural products (like cocopeat). The pictures and their descriptions are often not of the seeds as such, but of the form in which they are usually seen, surrounded by remains of flower structures that help in their survival or dispersal. The Introduction, Identification aid and Glossary are followed by 116 pages with 696 superb photographs of 623 different species, all with a brief description and distribution information. The book is spiral bound, 144 pp, with full colour photographs. The authors are Trevor James of AgResearch, Ian Popay from Landcare Research and Paul Champion from NIWA, all weed wizards; Nik Grbavac, seed specialist from Agriquality, Lincoln; and Birgit Rhode of Landcare Research. To find out how Birgit took those amazing photographs you have to buy this book!

Bind: paperback

Pages: 126

Dimensions: 182 x 245 mm

This book traces Graeme Thompson’s decision to leave the security of his family farm in remote Central Otago and take actions that would revolutionise the New Zealand meat industry, producing huge benefits to consumers around the world as well as to local farmers. For Graeme, these ventures meant fame and fortune and made the name of the dynamic company he founded, Fortex New Zealand Limited, synonymous with his name. But then the empire he had built came crashing down, throwing him into jail and all of the humiliation that went with it. Fortunately, Graeme’s courage, resilience and unwaver-ing support from family and friends saw him through that hard time. After leaving prison, he established a new and exciting business that has brought him a way of life and the tranquillity his previous fame could never offer. This riveting story also takes us through Graeme’s Scottish heritage, his childhood, boarding school and university days, marriage to his wife Barb, and the raising of their children. It is a story that not only exemplifies the extraordinary things that dynamic leadership of ourselves and others can achieve but also shows that we all have special resources to handle adversity and that success or failure is very much how we as individuals see it.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 216

Dimensions: 190 x 250 mm

Publication Date: 20-11-2017

• Designed according to the latest trends and colours of the design and fashion world – pure lifestyle. • Soft Touch print finish for a velvety feel of the surface. • 192 blank white pages, 32 pages are perforated (Pocket Square: completely perforated) • Embellished cover, Designed endpaper • Keepsake pocket

Bind: stationery

Dimensions: 150 x 100 mm

• Designed according to the latest trends and colours of the design and fashion world – pure lifestyle. • Soft Touch print finish for a velvety feel of the surface. • 192 blank white pages, 32 pages are perforated (Pocket Square: completely perforated) • Embellished cover, Designed endpaper • Keepsake pocket

Bind: stationery

Dimensions: 150 x 100 mm

80 blank pages

Bind: stationery

Pages: 80

Dimensions: 90 x 180 mm