A new history of the New Zealand Wars out tomorrow

A new history of the New Zealand Wars out tomorrow provides a compact introduction that readers of all ages can access.

The New Zealand Wars: A Brief History shows how these conflicts shaped the way race relations developed in New Zealand, though there was never a simple division in who fought whom.

‘There were professional British soldiers and barely trained settlers, while Maori fought on both sides depending on prior alliances and disputes,’ says author Matthew Wright.

And although they may seem distant, some of the causes of the conflicts are still manifest in modern New Zealand.

Matthew Wright

‘The wars finally came to an end not because the issues that drove them were resolved, but because both Maori and Pakeha were looking for different ways to settle their problems.

‘This is a process that continues today,’ Wright notes. ‘Some of the injustices           

that triggered the wars, and others that were generated by them, have still to be resolved.’

With clear and concise text, colour illustrations and maps, The New Zealand Wars outlines this core history for modern readers.

Release Date: 29 July 2014  |   ISBN: 978-1-877514-68-5  |  RRP $29.99

Paperback, 210 x 160 mm, 88 pages, full colour        

To arrange an interview, review copy, images or extracts, contact:

Peter Dowling - 027 614 8993   peter@oratiamedia.com

Libro International, a division of Oratia Media

The New Zealand Wars - A Brief History

The New Zealand Wars

A Brief History

Matthew Wright

The legacy of the New Zealand Wars is all around us, but for the most part we are ignorant of how it has shaped our society – and the remnants the conflict left on the landscape.

While the far-flung places where our soldiers fought in the World Wars are rightly commemorated and cared for, most of the New Zealand War sites have been neglected.

‘Today, many of the battle sites are half-forgotten, but we can still find them,’ says historian Matthew Wright. ‘We can stand where battles were fought — in a few cases, even within some of our towns and cities.’

From the first shots in the Bay of Islands (with its bullet-marked Christ Church in Russell) to the closing manoeuvres in the King Country, Wright sets out to clarify and characterise the

conflicts that raged from 1845 to 1872.

The New Zealand Wars brings to life this history in full colour, with the help of plentiful photos and maps. Readers of all ages will be able not only to understand this key part of our history, but also connect with the battle sites that remain – for the most part – hard to find.

The author: Matthew Wright is a prolific writer and historian who is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society at University College, London. His most recent work is the Bateman Illustrated History of New Zealand. He lives in Wellington.

Release Date:  29 July 2014  |  ISBN: 978-1-877514-68-5  | RRP $29.99

Paperback, 210 x 160 mm, 88 pages, full colour

To arrange an interview, review copy, images or extracts, contact:

Peter Dowling - 027 614 8993   peter@oratiamedia.com

Libro International, a division of Oratia Media

Tim Tipene a star for Matariki

Children's author Tim Tipene will appear at the Ranui Library in West Auckland this Saturday 12 July as part of their Matariki (Māori New Year) programme. Get along to hear Tim in action.