An intriguing collection of tales plucked from the byways of New Zealand’s history by a master storyteller who recognises a good yarn when he sees it. Gordon McLauchlan tempts our imagination with 46 little-known tales from the past. Here you will discover:
- that Auckland applied twice to the Colonial Office to be a separate colony from the rest of New Zealand
- more about the man who wanted to be James Cook
- when drinking beer legally became an ‘art’ on the West Coast
- whether Kupe was man or myth
- how Hawera seceded and became a republic
- when and why the Americans planned to invade New Zealand
- which aviation heroine was called a ‘naughty girl who deserved a spanking’
- why a posse of politicians committed suicide . . . and more.
This great collection of tales explores these and many more questions and issues which have fascinated New Zealanders and filled many a page in many a history book over the years. Gordon McLauchlan brings a fresh perspective on some old and often vexed periods in New Zealand’s history.
