A Traveller's History of New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands

This book starts very slow (with the geology of the country) and then ramps up as it approaches modern day New Zealand. It covers almost every major event that has been recorded in the country and explains the cultural and social significance on what happened and why it happened that way. I was there for 2 weeks and found myself referring back to what I had read to provide more background to what we were seeing. This book makes you semi-fluent in New Zealand history. MUST READ and definitely worth the money. As a side note: the original Polynesian inhabitants are the Maori people. I was corrected (embarrassingly by a Maori) on how to say the word. It is not May-ore-ee (like most think). It is Mar-ee.

This is a well written general introducton to New Zealand, and is a bt more than just a "Traveller's History". Chambers explains how the geology affected the geography of the region, and how this in turn determined the development of flora and fauna. The ethnographical dscusssion is interesting and written with considerable wit. I found the modern history to be intriguing, and beware the MMP! The book has nice maps and line drawngs and a good bibliography. I am at a loss, however as why one would need the historical gazetteer or list of rulers.