Another installment of interesting reads for January. Good books – they’re an essential part of the joys of cruising. And if the lockdowns continue – well then, they will probably be even more welcome!
NEW BOOKS
REAWAKENED – TRADITIONAL NAVIGATORS OF TE MOANA-NUI-A-KIWA BY JEFF EVANS (MASSEY UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2021)
This is the most recent addition to the library of traditional Pacific navigation – and the most vital in a human sense. The interviews of living master navigators (a chapter for each) give this book immediacy, a current relevance and an irresistible appeal. The photography – portraits and action sailing shots – is compelling too. This book is all about vaka moana sailing in the here and now.
250 YEARS OF NEW ZEALAND PAINTING BY GIL DOCKING, MICHAEL DUNN AND EDWARD HANFLING (BATEMAN BOOKS, 2020)
This book helps you to get your head out of boats and away from the sea. This is another magnificent, lavishlyillustrated book. Perfect for the dip-in, dip-out reader – and full of surprising images. The book will generate great saloon table discussions about aesthetics, a subject all boaties are well-versed in.
NEWISH BOOKS
PATHWAY OF THE BIRDS BY ANDREW CROWE BATEMAN PUBLISHING AND UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI`I PRESS, 2018)
Intriguingly traverses backwards from the furthest points of Polynesian navigators’ reach – Aotearoa New Zealand, Hawai`i, Rapanui Easter Island, and the South American coast. Crowe adds notes from a recent Pacific cruise. It includes many excellent graphics and also succinctly explains why Pacific oceanic voyaging had declined so much by AD 1450.
SUNSET TO SUNRISE BY TIMOTHY NICOL (NEW HOLLAND, 2018)
Written by the Timothy Nicol, the bloke who managed our lighthouse system from 1990 to 1999, Sunset to Sunrise (New Holland, 2018) is full of fascinating info (factual and legendary!) and images. It doubles as navigational education too!
PARADISE SAVED BY DAVE BUTLER, TONY LINDSAY AND JANET HUNT (RANDOM HOUSE NZ, 2014)
For much-needed inspiration. If we can do so well in New Zealand with forest habitat rescue, then it’s possible in the ocean too!
YOUNG READERS
IN OUR OWN BACKYARD BY ANNE KEYES (BATEMAN BOOKS 2021)
There’s been much media interest this year in the 40th anniversary of The Tour of 1981 – and its repercussions for modern New Zealand. This lively, truth-telling novel will get teenagers up to speed on this important part of our history. They will also relate to the anti-establishment in it, I reckon!
E3 CALL HOME BY JANET HUNT RANDOM HOUSE NZ, 2009
The story of two kuaka godwits whose flight in 2007 was tracked using transmitters. A male bird E3 mysteriously turned back when he reached Papua New Guinea. What had happened to him? A female, E7, showed that godwits can fly from Alaska to New Zealand, a distance of 11,200 non-stop kilometres.
