The Penguin History of New Zealand

The author assures the reader that this book is not an encyclopedia, but it does seem encyclopedic in nature as it covers NZ from long before man first appeared in that land to the present (2006). Reading this book on my first visit, I was in a hurry to get through the many chapters on pre-European background but in the final chapters I came to realize how important all that is to modern NZ. The Maori culture was here before the Europeans were here, almost disappeared and has now become ubiquitous in everyday life. That's why the author's seemingly laborious treatment of the Maori in early chapters is so important.But the book also provides more contemporary history on current challengs: demographic issues especially regarding Asian and Pacific Island immigration --and growing cities; environmental issues, which were seriously neglected in the past; and the modern economy which requires a nimble economic strategy not required over the many decades of dealing primarily with the UK. Also of importance to understanding 21st century NZ are chapters on the government; for example, fascinating how the Labour Party switched almost overnight from what this U.S. reader would call liberal to conservative.Not a must read for the casual traveller-- but a must read for anyone who wants to better understand this beautiful country.

Before we travel to a foreign country, I try to learn as much as possible about that country. This is the book I chose to do that and I am writing this review in that light.The book is very comprehensive and offers an understandable chronoligical history of New Zealand. He makes it as interesting as possible for a history book. What I really appreciate is that the book is factual without any judgements or bias. He does not editorialize about, for example, the treatment of the Maori people or about the actions of the English. He has no agenda.The book was much too long for my purposes as a tourist historian. After page 250 I did some skimming. However, I suspect that a serious reader would find the length to be perfect.My only serious criticiam is the lack of photos, drawing or paintings. Other than a few maps in the back of the book, there are no visuals. For example, there is not a single photo or drawing of a Maori in the book. I also would have liked some maps showing the movement of the people and of the changes in land ownership.Overall, the book suited my purpose very well.

Looses lots of words on the very boring sidetracks often and is unable to make his exciting theme, well, exciting. But, sadly, the best book on NZ history.

I really enjoyed the insights about Polynesian exploration of the Pacific by outrigger canoe and navigation by the stars way before the European explorers ventured out. I also appreciated the early history of the Maori after they arrived at New Zealand; their culture, food, local ecology et al, and how most of the history was passed along orally. The approach by the English to (mostly) preserve Maori names, property and culture was enlightening. Probably because of better records to draw upon in the 1900's, the last third of the book goes into numbing detail about mostly New Zealand politics. A good respite is New Zealand proudly rising to the call during WW I and WW II.

While it has a lot of information - unless you already have a good understanding of New Zealand history, geography, and native terms and language - I found it hard to read. Not too mention the small font size; there was always references to past New Zealand history, geography, native (Mauri, etc.) terminology that unless I stopped and started to research the term, I would be lost.I almost needed a cheat sheet of the 100 common Mauri references and a wall size map to follow.As well, it doesn't include literally the last 100 years which I was (am) most interested in.

This is not an academic text with the depth of, say, Belich's two volume history but it is not a light weight fly by either. It is a very easy, though not short and fairly comprehensive telling of the story of New Zealand. Because of its general nature there are places where I would have rather it went into greater detail, especially in some aspects of political history, and it does contain some "teasing" moments, I for one would have liked to have read more about the shenanigans of the New Zealand First Party in the 1990s. However, it is by far the best storytelling that I have read by Michael King.

I have an aunt in New Zealand and she says this book history is quite accurate.

Great read as I was traveling around New Zealand for the first time.I thought the author took a very fair and critical eye towards different periods of colonial and post-colonial eras of New Zealand.I also enjoyed the introductory history towards the beginning of the book about the Maori peoples prior to the arrival of Europeans. (though I'd like to find more information on this period)The book definitely generalizes in some parts, but that's to be expected when you cover a country's entire history in this size book.

Having arrived in New Zealand from a conference and tourist visit to Australia, as I arrived in Rotorua I realised how little I knew about NZ history- even less than the Australia I had studied at school some +40 years before. The Maori history had not even been mentioned in Auckland, where I arrived and spent a couple of days before moving on to one of the places I really wanted to see - with its hot springs etc ... (did geography at "A" level). So it was a great pleasure to stop at the Rotorua Museum bookshop and see this book displayed. Aha, I thought, just what I want, but no way was I going to carry 500+ pages of book around with for the rest of my holiday. So I took the details and bought it on Kindle when I got back home (cheaper than the hard copy!).It's taken me a year to get around to reading it - but once started, I read it in a week (and it's a big book, covering a huge subject). Fascinating, endlessly readable, and I was absolutely shocked by the fact that the author, erudite and knowledgeable as he obviously was, and able to put the story into layman's terms and still make it all interesting ... had died in a car accident only about a year after this book's publication.For anyone wanting more than an overview, but not so dry an historical tome as such a history might present, I can only recommend highly. A more knowledgeable person might well be able to pick holes in it, but it gave me what I was looking for.I must say, I found all the kiwis I met delightful - friendly and helpful, and this book goes a long way to showing me why they are like this. I don't usually write reviews, or indeed, buy anything but free kindle books these days as I have so many to read already, but I made an exception for this, and it is was well worth the purchase.

Great depth of history. It would suit students.I’ve just emigrated to NZ so wanted to know more about the history and culture. Certainly the book helps you understand and appreciate the importance of the different cultures and how they have imperfectly integrated.Personally I need to find additional background on the evolution of the culture, politics and economy since the millennium.The book itself refers to many historical names of people and places. This will be useful for students but is superfluous if you are looking for a quick overview. The inclusion. of in each chapter would have been more informative.If you don’t need a detailed history and instead need a quick overview then maybe another book would suit you better.

As a frequent visitor to New Zealand, I found that this book gave an insight into the factors that make this country so different, particularly in respect to the interfaces between Maori and Pakeha. Inevitably, a history will reflect subjective interests, and I would have liked more material on the gold rushes, and their impact on he economy and sociology of the country, and the relationship between NZ and Australia. Overall, this is an excellent grounding on the subject and will inspire further reading.

A fascinating study that includes some analysis that is wonderfully different from what you normally get in books on early modern and modern history. The DNA study of rats, for example, was something I was not expecting, while the description of the arrival of the first Europeans was entertaining.

I have this on my Kindle and have not yet finished it, but have thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history of the wonderful country. I read it whilst on holiday in NZ and this enhanced my visit as I could appreciate how the country has developed.