New Zealand

Two hundred and twenty years after Captain Cook's first tour of New Zealand, Dick Parsons takes us on a more comfortable voyage of discovery round the north and south islands. He gives us a fascinating insight into the life-human, animal and botanical-of this green and majestic land on the other side of the world.From a ninety-mile beach in the far north to Dunedin via the Southern Alps, forests, inlets, glaciers, lakes, and islands-even the elusive Mt. Cook-are recorded in fine detail. Birds, beasts, and marine life, plus the impact of man-whether Maori, Scots, or English-are described and commented on with fairness and good humor.There is much to be admired about the Kiwis, not only their all-conquering 'All Blacks', but their great spirit of enterprise, for when Britain breaking its commercial ties with the Commonwealth, joined the European Common Market, the resourceful Kiwis rose to the challenge and forged strong economic links with Pacific Rim countries.