Kotuku Publishing and Kevin Boon Writing New Zealand History and Stories for Children

 
Latest Publications are:
 

Kezia
 
 

(The story of Katherine Mansfield's childhood in New Zealand).
 

By Kevin Boon                                                                $25.00    (including   GST)
 
Suitable for young people aged 10 to 15. Includes six of Katherine Mansfield's most popular stories.
 
'Boon writes surprisingly convincingly as a young Mansfield and when he inserts Mansfield's own work (The Little Girl,  Prelude, The Voyage, At the Bay, The Doll's House and The Garden Party) the text flows well.'
 
The book gives a full picture of Mansfield growing up in Thorndon, and the move to Karori, her time at Wellington Girl's College and of her relationship with other family members and the city.
 

Joseph Romanos

 

The Story of the All Blacks   

 
 

The Story of the All Blacks was first published in 1993 to celebrate the one-hundredth anniversary of the New Zealand rugby union. It consisted of 12 to 24  pages, stapled booklets, which have now become scarce and are no longer in print. In 2010 it was decided to rewrite and republish The Story of the All Blacks as 4 books between 36 and 40 pages with improved and updated text, illustrations and binding. The four books, each covering a period of approximately 25 years are: -

Originals & Invincibles (1900 – 1925)  
Lions, Wallabies & Springboks (1926 – 1950)  
Springbok Fever & Grand Slams (1951 – 1980)  
Politics & World Cups (1981 - 2000)  
   

The books are written with young people in view. They are not mere statistical records of matches played, points scored, etc. although the most important matches, series and developments are fully covered. They are well illustrated with a highly readable and entertaining text illuminating such features as: -

 

  • The imagination shown by the first player ordered off, who limped painfully to the sideline, thus earning the applause of the crowd rather than its derision.
  • The origins of the All Black name.
  • The referees amazing whistling fantasia in the Surry game of 1905.
  • The try that wasn’t in the Welsh test of 1905.
  • And the referee who literally ‘missed the boat’ in the Irish test.

 
   

                          Dawn of the 20th Century

  
   
   
 

The Dawn of the 20th Century was certainly a time of great change in New Zealand society. The Liberal Party had introduced innovative social and industrial policies that put New Zealand at the forefront of the world. As a result of what could be called the ‘Electrical Revolution’ many new appliances and amenities had been introduced, making transport and household activities less laborious and time-consuming.

Maori culture was reviving and welfare improving, thanks to the efforts of the ‘Young Maori Party’ and other Maori leaders. New Zealand was beginning to develop a ‘National Identity’ as a result of the deeds of our troops in what was known as the ‘Boer War’ in South Africa and the ‘Original’ All Blacks in Britain and France.

 However, by 1914 there were clouds on the horizon. Industrial relations were deteriorating as the struggle between employers and labourers heightened, and the prospect of World War One became more intense.

 All of this is discussed in this entertaining and well-illustrated book.