Our libraries are closed, but our eCollections and online resources are available 24/7.
Our New Zealand nonfiction section features books and eBooks about travel, history, law and more. This list updates when we add new titles to our collection.
The topic NZ nonfiction has been added to your favourites.
The topic NZ nonfiction has been removed from your favourites.
The topic NZ nonfiction will be added to your favourites. What does this mean?
eBook
A book of humorous stories with a distinctive Kiwi flavour, both true and definitely not true, compiled through Radio Pacific. Spinning a good yarn is a time-honoured tradition in this country, the stories about the larrikin, the local colourful identity,...
Investing in the stock market is not easy and several people fail when they first enter the market. That is why it is important to understand how the stock market works and what does it entail when you take the plunge.One of the best ways to equip yo...
Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern is a leader for a new generation, one tired of inertia in the face of pressing issues such as climate change, immigration and the rise of far-right terrorism. Ardern was catapulted onto the international stage...
"In 2006 New Zealand as it Might Have Been introduced a new way of looking at New Zealand's national experience - its history, society and politics, even its rugby - as 15 authors considered what could have been rather than simply what was. Now this new...
"Glyn Harper, Joel Hayward and a team of top military historians profile the most important commanders in New Zealand history, both Maori and Pakeha, from the nineteenth century to the recent past. Each writer is an expert on the commander concerned,...
"Organic gardening leaves your patch of earth in a better condition than when you found it by working with nature rather than against it. A practicable and better alternative to chemical-dependent and environmentally unsustainable cultivation practic...
"In the autumn of 2010, a little-known New Zealander called Joe Schmidt took over as head coach at Leinster. He had never been in charge of a professional team. After Leinster lost three of their first four games, a prominent Irish rugby pundit speculated...
Book
Successful financial planner Liz Koh reveals that each of us has a hidden attitude towards money, which strongly influences our ability to create wealth and use it to enjoy life to the full. Once you uncover and understand your true 'money personality'...
On the verge of entering the Anglican clergy, Samuel Butler experienced a sudden change of heart and instead decided to set sail for New Zealand, where he established a sheep farm. Butler chronicles his rocky start as a rancher--and his opinions on a...
Husna Ahmed was a victim of the Christchurch mosque terrorist attack on 15 March 2019. She was shot while looking for her husband, who was in a wheelchair.
"From Sean Macgregor's lounge occupied by stoned youths, to three bank robbers en route to the Penrose ANZ, Michael Steven's second collection presents his clear, clean vision of 'the lifers' who inhabit these islands and beyond. A generation's subte...
Creativity isnt all about individual inspiration and work. It sparks from the cross fertilisation of energy and imaginations and ideas, and thrives in institutional, social and cultural places that recognise the worth of cultural activity and creativ...
"A father rollerblading to church in his ministerial robes, a university student in a leotard sprinting through fog, a trespass notice from Pak'n' Save, a beautiful unborn goat in a jar ... In scenarios ranging from the mundane to the surreal, Madison...
" 'Down A Country Road II' features the colouful, eccentric and hard-working characters who are the back-bone of the New Zealand back country. An evocative reminiscence of a way of life that has largely disappeared, it captures the stories of Kiwis who...
Mezzaluna gathers work from critically acclaimed poet Michele Leggott's nine collections, from Like This? (1988) to Vanishing Points (2017). In complex lyrics, sampling thought and song, voice and vision, Leggott creates lush textured soundscapes. Her...
"This fully revised edition of the first ever photographic identification guide to New Zealand’s unique marine algae is by the country’s pre-eminent seaweed expert, Dr Wendy Nelson. New Zealand Seaweeds: An Illustrated Guide describes over 150 genera...
"Decolonisation is a term that alarms some, and gives hope to others. It is an uncomfortable and often bewildering concept for many New Zealanders. This book seeks to demystify decolonisation using illuminating, real-life examples. By exploring the impact...
"From humble beginnings in Nightcaps leaving school at 15, Keith Neylon MNZM has now had more than 50 years’ involvement in New Zealand and international primary industries. This book tells of his early years as a farmhand, coal miner and shearer before...
"Miniature vintage and classic caravans - otherwise known as 'tinies' and 'teardrops' - have become hugely popular in recent years, due to their dinkiness and versatility. The good use of compact spaces and the appeal of quality design have always caught...
"This book combines the writings of Gavine Campbell, who first went to the Nevis as a young school teacher in 1927 and stories of people who braved the challenges the Nevis threw at them. Gavine married Nevis-born miner Ian McLean. They and their children...
"Ann Gluckman's vision with Volume I in this series, published back in 1990, was to provide a historical record of the community and to mark both New Zealand's sesquicentennial and the founding of the Auckland Hebrew Congregation in 1840. Volume II followed...
Now a distant and somewhat neglected figure of New Zealand Cricket history, Stewie Dempster – 86 years on since he played his last test – is brought back to life in this long awaited biography reconfirming his rightful place in New Zealand’s cricketing...
"Family Law Policy in New Zealand considers family law as a whole, from the definitions of ‘family’, through to context, goals, aspirations and judicial outcomes. Since the 4th edition was published in 2013, family law has undergone significant legis...
There was a time when Māori were: barred from public toilets, segregated at the cinema & swimming baths, refused alcohol, haircuts & taxi rides, forced to stand for white bus passengers, not allowed to attend school with other students. It happened in...
Waipipi Iron Sands' on-shore mining operation employed 160 people and ran night and day during its heyday. The crew even had their own rugby team. It started in 1969 after the Government decided iron sand in the area was not a potential reserve for d...
"The Pear Tree Press gained its name from an aged pear tree that overhung an old brick farm shed where Tara McLeod first established the Press in the Mt Albert suburb of Auckland, later moving north of Auckland to Orewa. A varied selection of limited...
Mama Rules was developed from two workshops where participants were encouraged to reflect and dialogue about their stories and experiences of leadership. It is a culmination of experiences, ideas and discussions with various Pacific women in Te Waipounamu...
"In April 1884 Hugh Shortland, an ambitious young lawyer and would-be entrepreneur from Devon, married Laura Dimes. Almost immediately he left her to return to a lonely existence in the parental home, while he excused himself on the grounds of an imp...
"This is a brief account for the general reader of the deadliest and most gruesome chapter in New Zealand's history - the Musket Wars in which around one third of the Maori population were killed. The wars were a continuation of the inter-tribal fighting...
For the first time the true story of New Zealand’s first successful aeroplane flights and the people behind them. Extensive research provides new understanding of historic events and corrects more than a hundred years of history with a startling account...
"Husna's Story is written by Husna's husband Farid Ahmed. They were praying at El Noor Mosque in Christchurch when a gunman burst in and shot and killed 51 people and injured many others in a terrorist attack. This book tells Husna's story, describing...
Compelling story of moving from the depths of depression to competing in one of the toughest endurance races out there.
"Brookers building law handbook...consolidates in one volume the key legislation relevant to the area of building law"--Back cover.
"Connells Bay Sculpture Park is a private property on Waiheke Island purchased by John and Jo Gow in 1993. Their vision has been to bring art and nature together by planting out large areas of native trees and creating special spaces for New Zealand....
"'I am Vanessa Ryan and I have Something To Say' is an extraordinary autobiography. After a long battle with cancer, Vanessa lost her eyesight, her ability to write and to speak, but never the veracity to share. This autobiography takes you on a jour...
"What do we know? And how do we know it? These are essential questions to consider when a functioning democracy is reliant on an informed populace. Yet at this moment in the information age something has gone awry with our public knowledge. Are we cu...
Her London life is not destroying her, but it's not inspiring her, either. And the fact is, Naomi's in love - with New Zealand. She feels compelled to throw in the towel on London life; a successful career, friends, night life, and the stability of f...
Adams on Criminal Law has been New Zealand’s most trusted criminal law reference for over 40 years. The Student Edition looks at the Crimes Act 1961 and Criminal Procedure Act 2011 and offers practical commentary on key sections. The concise way in which...
"'My grandmother was Kathleen Hoggett Marshall and I must have been fifteen or sixteen when it occurred to me to doubt the veracity of the story of her life – and in particular that part of it that related to her marriage and the birth of my father, ...
Matt Calman's most consistent tool for dealing with problems throughout his life was alcohol. But it got to the stage where he was no longer willing to put up with the dark side of his drinking. So he quit. But the problems that had been simmering away...
The third of three books by military historian Jock Vennell on New Zealand's participation in World War 1 through the experiences of its commanders and the men they led. A biography of Major General Sir Andrew Russell, commander of the New Zealand Division...
"The Kiwi Branding Edge book explores how New Zealand businesses are creating an edge with the New Zealand Made Kiwi trademark. This practical guide shows you how to create a market origin advantage for the products you make through the lens of 70+ b...
"'Renew Your Wesleyan DNA' tells the story of how John Wesley is one of the most influential church leaders since apostolic times, says Dr Waugh. 'His global family of churches has grown around the world and ministers in over 160 countries and influences...
"Waka Paddle to Gas Pedal - The First Century of Auckland Transport - describes the evolution of Auckland's transport systems in terms of the aspirations and activities of various businessmen, planners, engineers, and politicians and the ensuing success...
"This book investigates our turbulent tectonics. It tells us how earthquakes are measured and described, and how scientists predict future shakes. It details New Zealand's lesser known quakes, quakes that have had deadly consequences, and the tremors...
This study investigates how Janet Frame weaves together literary sources from her extensive reading to create a web of intertextual relationships. Patricia Neville traces Frames passion for books beginning with her childhood and earliest published work...
"In Driven, Paddon details the many highs and lows along the road to the top. He opens up about his struggles with bullying, depression and loss as a young man, and goes on public record for the first time about the 2017 accident in which a spectator...
"Wild Kaimanawas set her on a journey of self-discovery, teaching her not only the language of horses but the powerful impact they can have on our lives. In Taming the Wild, Kelly Wilson shares her training philosophies for creating happy horses that...
"The Spinoff is now - shockingly - a book... jam-packed with the very best writing from the first five years by Spinoff stars and guest writers, along with brand new and exclusive essays, full-colour artwork by Toby Morris, screenshots, collage, Friday...
He was behind the policy that transformed New Zealand from a collection of sparsely settled and isolated provinces into a unified nation, he cultivated trade connections and was an advocate of greater colonial autonomy and equal rights between men and...
"In the early twentieth century, Kathleen Pine and Philip Soutar lived on a farm out of Whakatāne in an 'as-you-please marriage, uncelebrated by a clergyman.' Kathleen was Māori; Philip, Pākehā; and their lengthy love affair came to an end when Philip...
"Join me, veteran of the early venison recovery days, as I take you on many a journey - some hilarious, some tragic, but above all, stories of adrenalin-filled adventures. In my opinion, these were the good old days. It was the era before cellphones,...
This book details what is believed to be the first traverse of the Fiordland National Park wilderness area, New Zealand, in 1973/74. The author, Frank Yardley, then a 'hippie' and Shorty Biddle, a returned World War 2 serviceman, completed the traverse...
Super Cheap New Zealand is the ultimate budget travel guide to New Zealand, full of the most useful, up-to-date information for a cheap holiday in this amazing country. With so many ways to eat for next to nothing, crazily discounted activity passes ...
It starts with a road trip in 1974 for three brothers exploring the South Island of New Zealand. When their house-truck breaks down near Havelock, the gateway to the Marlborough Sounds, they think their journey is over. But really, it has just begun....
"An outrageous sortie on a pre-war BSA and two obscure, obsolete Yorkshire-made, single-cylinder Panther motorbikes. Poorly funded, with little planning, the ride depends on good luck, blind loyalty and terminal optimism. The struggle is managed with...
"No Way Back is the heartfelt story of an Anglican priest deeply impacted by the charismatic movement as it swept through New Zealand in the late twentieth century. Having lived through all the stages of the movement, Don Battley takes the reader inside...
John Davidson retells myths and historical events (sometimes to highlight a modern concern or controversy), reinvents mythical or historical individuals, and now and then enjoys shameless forays into fantasy.
In lieu of flowers, bring weeds. Elizabeth Morton's poems look unflinchingly at a raw and unstable world - the crash, the aftermath, the comeback, 'the black heat at the centre of things'. The poems in Morton's second collection are charged with a vi...
Marry if you must, warned Jonquil's mother. But for God's sake don't have kids. You'll rue the day they become teenagers. When the Grahams were 'given' a child on their honeymoon, they decided to foster, and then, in rapid succession, to adopt nine children...
"Francis and Kaiora Tipene aren't your typical funeral directors. With their famous humour and big-hearted personalities, the TVNZ and Netflix reality TV stars are changing the way we think about death and grief. Life as a casketeer reveals how Francis...
"This is a biography of Sir Toke Tufukia Talagi and his life from a small island in the Pacific to a knight of the realm. It covers his life work and his experiences as a businessman and into politics and the premiership. He was a reluctant politician...
"Navigating journeys is a collection of poetry and prose written by local writers from Mana Māngere Writers Collective who have either lived, worked or have studied in the communities of Māngere or Otahuhu." --Back cover.
A kitchen-well travelled is the ultimate collection of family recipes and culinary adventures from author Sai Yoganathan. Born and raised in Sri Lanka, her cuisine is rooted in the traditional techniques and spices of her motherland, while infusing e...
"A new series of award winning Little Books of Art is here! Designed by award-winning artist Aaron Beehre, these beautifully produced Little Books of Art make the perfect gift. Each book is curated to a different theme and features high-quality repro...
"Discover the fascinating story behind Eldred Stebbing and the Stebbing recording legacy. From pioneering violins and 78 records, to the singers, songwriters, engineers and producers who have pooled their talents through the decades to make musical magic...
"In 1973, Anne Kennedy's brother Philip was partying on a hillside when he accidentally fell to his death. In 'Moth hour,' Anne Kennedy returns to the death of her brother and the world he inhabited. Kennedy's poems grapple with the rebellious world of...
In 1918, from deep within the West Coast bush, a miner on the run from the military wrote a letter to his sweetheart. Two months later he was in jail. Like millions of others, his letter had been steamed open by a team of censors shrouded in secrecy....
From 1872 to 1939, a significant number of Australian and New Zealand artists were chosen for exhibitions at the annual French Salons. ... With details drawn from the archives of the Louvre, Australasian Artists at the French Salons, is a fascinating...
BULLY is a collection of stories and poems which is split into 5 parts. The words delve into all forms of love - self love, first love and heart break. BULLY aims to reignite your fire after it's been put out and aims to teach you that real loving is...
"New Zealand's infrastructure was built by the people of the construction industry; either in the public sector funded by government, or in companies founded by families. Both sectors had an innate strength, it was built on personalities and in the p...
Dane Mitchell deploys disguised cellphone towers to broadcast a litany of loss At the 58th Venice Biennale, New Zealand artist Dane Mitchell (born 1976) broadcasts from transmission towers disguised as trees a vast inventory of vanished or invisible ...
A one woman kayaking odyssey when she sets off to voyage around NZ , it tests her limits and what solo means. Her journey doesnt always go to plan. Yes she discovered that one person can achieve monumental things by herself. But she learnt something else...
"Take another look is about learning to observe children at play to see how they learn, grow and develop. As well as introducing various methods of observation, Take another look discusses other aspects of children's growth - the stages of development,...
"Have you ever rolled your eyes and thought, 'Nothing happens in New Zealand?' Think again. For those in the know, every day on our calendar tells its own story. Today in New Zealand History reals the milestones, innovations, catastrophes, victories and...
"Riverstone Kitchen is an award-winning restaurant nestled in the spectacular North Otago countryside. Opened in 2006 by Bevan Smith after a career that has taken him from Le Pont de la Tour and Michael Caine's Canteen in London to Australia, where he...
Sam Moore's Instagram account and Facebook page Ugly Ink went viral when he started posting images of classic Kiwi stereotypes. They're characters that every New Zealander can relate to, including everyone's gran 'Helpful Beryl', dress code-breaker '...
When Carrig Anderson was a young child his parents, Peter and Annie Anderson, brought him from Northern Ireland to New Zealand, where Peter had been offered a job on a farm north of Christchurch. The boy was never short of friends: his soft Irish accent...
This is the second volume of memoir by this remarkable Maori writer and of the living myths that inspired him at the beginning of his career. Look at him, the young man on the cover. The year is 1972, he is 28, his first book is about to be published,...
Was this page useful?
To ask for help or information, contact us.