Backlist > Flora & Fauna

This landmark publication draws together all that has ever been written about the role of freshwater fishes in the lives of early Maori. Species such as tuna (eels), kanakana (lamprey), inanga and kokopu were of high importance in the traditional diets of Maori, who were well aware of the places and seasons in which these fish could be harvested. Bob McDowall has made it his life's work to read every word ever written on the subject of Maori fisheries, from passing references in explorers' diaries, to the significant literary achie... read more

In this lavishly illustrated book, 20 of New Zealand's top landscape architects and designers offer their wisdom and advice on landscaping with native plants. These personal narratives showcase some of our country's most beautiful out-door environments, from private gardens to public recreation land, urban and industrial spaces, and even farmland. Stunning photographs by John Maillard capture the uniqueness and splendour of each location, from Kaeo in the Far North to Queenstown in the south.

This lively and informative book looks at the natural history, the populations, the movements and the behaviour of wild duck, in order to help the sportsman to better understand his quarry. In no-nonsense prose, Douglas Butler shares the knowledge and experience of a lifetime of interest in ducks and in hunting them. This is the only book to focus exclusively on duck shooting and it will appeal to ornithologists, conservationists and those who shoot duck.

This volume is the second of three that provide a complete review and inventory of New Zealand's entire living and fossil biodiversity - an international effort involving more than 220 New Zealand and overseas specialists and the most comprehensive of its kind in the world. Together, the three volumes will list every one of the almost 55,000 known species of New Zealand's animals, plants, fungi and micro-organisms.
Volume 2 mostly deals with the major branch of the animal kingdom known as Ecdysozoa (moulting animals), whic... read more

Backyard poultry is a very practical non-technical book about how to keep poultry successfully in New Zealand in backyard and smalllfarming settings. The major emphasis is on fowls but there are also useful sections and chapters on ducks, geese and turkeys.

For far too long introduced plants have overshadowed our native plants. Going Native is packed with ideas and uses for New Zealand natives, from landscaping and cultivating native plants, to guidelines for growing rare and endangered species and restoring native plant habitats. Included is an extensive glossary and colour illustrations to help with plant selection along with contributions from gardening experts, this is a book by New Zealanders for New Zealand.

A comprehensive travel guide featuring the best of New Zealand’s waterfalls from top to bottom of the country. Inside are all details on how to get there (parking, walking times) and information about each waterfall. A must have for all nature lovers.

This volume is the first of three that provides a complete review and inventory of New Zealand's entire living and fossil biodiversity. More than 220 New Zealand and overseas specialists have collaborated to produce the most comprehensive book of its kind in the world. Together, the three volumes will list every one of the 55,000-plus known species of New Zealand's animals, plants, fungi and micro-organisms. These volumes are affiliated with Species 2000, an international scientific project with the long-term goal of enumerating al... read more

This book will teach you how to identify with confidence the most delicious mushrooms. They are all common species and easy to identify. The method is totally safe. All you do is follow this new, simple approach to positive identification. Then you can enjoy mushrooming without fear.

This new book tells the amazing story of red deer in New Zealand since their introduction in the 1850s to provide sport for settlers. At first, some great trophies were taken, but before long deer had so expanded in numbers and range they were eating out the native forests and raiding farmland. This led to their being declared a pest, and to control measures that created a hunting subculture encompassing all levels of society. There were the deer cullers, employed by the government in a vain attempt at eradication, and from whom ar... read more

Politicians, artists, academics, farmers, business people - growing numbers of New Zealanders are committed to a passionate love affair with native plants. This collection of 44 personal narratives is sumptuously illustrated by photographs by John Maillard, who travelled from Invercargill to Auckland to bring to life contributors' garden stories. Contributors include Peri Drysdale, Jeanette Fitzsimons, Tim Shadbolt, Steven Tindall, and a host of conservationists and gardeners esteemed in their locales. First published August 2008.

The South Island of New Zealand is brown trout country without peer. Amazingly varied landscapes and waterways greet the angler at every turn of the road. Streams range from tiny lowland spring creeks to huge, snow-fed giants. Brown trout are found in these streams in good numbers. Most important, perhaps, is the impressive size and sheer beauty of these wild fish. A Stroll Through Brown Trout Country is a celebration of Les Hill & Graeme Marshall's exploration together of brown trout habitat, spanning more than three decades. ... read more

One in 13 of New Zealand's native plants is now threatened with extinction. Six species have already, like the moa and the huia, gone for ever. This beautifully illustrated book combines precise botanical descriptions with lavish photography in describing 189 species officially designated by conservationists as extinct or threatened.

First publishd in 2001 and now extensively revised, this book describes Great Barrier Island's history and natural features, including flora, fauna, habitats and endangered species, both terrestrial and marine. Profusely illustrated, it is an esential resource for all visitors to what Sir Peter Blake called 'probably my favourite island in the whole world'.

A concise guidebook to the 72 sea fishes most commonly caught around New Zealand. Each superb illustration is clearly marked with distinguishing features to enable easy, positive identification of the catch. There are also brief descriptive notes, lists of alternative names, and details of distribution, biology, depth range, fishing methods and eating qualities.

A guide to New Zealand's common seaweeds, adapted from the major award-winning book <i>Seaweeds of New Zealand</i> - an illustrated guide. Precise yet concise descriptions of 100 of our common seaweeds, each species illustrated in watercolour.

If a hole could be dug from London straight down through the centre of the earth, one would eventually emerge close to the small, remote Antipodes Islands in the New Zealand subantarctic. Straight Through From London vividly details the history and natural history of the Antipodes and their tiny neighbours, the Bounty Islands. With their undisturbed vegetation and a flourishing wildlife, the islands are truly unique, and totally protected as National Nature Reserves on the World Heritage List. 213mm x 233mm 415 pages

This book is the story of the NZ Association of Smallfarmers, but it is equally the story of an extraordinary farming revolution that is everywhere to be seen, but has more often been blindly criticised and opposed than it has been analysed and understood. Smallfarming has re-populated the New Zealand countryside and nearly every new farming diversification - with new animals and tree and plant crops - during the last 30 years had smallholding beginnings.

A revolution has been taking place in the New Zealand countryside, the number of smallholdings tripling in the past two decades. The Smallfarming Revolution provides amnd absorbing and realistic view of the smallfarming life. It covers the great range of farming activities carried out on smallholdings. And it describes how smallfarming is in harmony with emerging trends about working patterns and sustainable living. The book also contains detailed case histories of 21 New Zealand smallfarming partnerships, of varying ages and backg... read more

Two expert anglers – one a trout scientist and the other an outstanding photographer – combine forces in this new book which will help anglers understand, and catch more and bigger, trout. In a mixture of plain language science, fishing anecdotes and illustrations, they explain how an understanding of trout behaviour, senses, biology and habitat, the seasons and the physical environment will make angling more productive and rewarding. Chapters cover the senses of trout, their feeding behaviour, response to lures and ang... read more