Where New Zealand Began By Paul Rose

I spent a lifetime in advertising and marketing and marketing education before retirement to the Bay of Islands. I taught over 5,000 students at Auckland Technical Institute, AIS, TAFE NSW, Whitirea and other campuses and in the process wrote many books on advertising, promotion, PR, marketing strategy as well as articles in major media. So I was no stranger to writing or publishing.

Now retired to Northland, escaping the cityscape of Auckland, I was keen to learn everything about our new home. The history was well written by many others but did not show the linking between the settlements in and around the Bay and how they developed their own character. This started me on a quest to pull it all together.

The book that does just that - a historical tour around the Bay of Islands from the perspective of its history both Maori and settlers as well as the many seafarers, missionaries and traders who developed the land and the sea around it. It looks at the history of Ohio, Kerikeri, Kororareka (Russell), Paihia, Waimate North, Kaeo, Kawakawa and smaller places within this boundary.

The research was done, the writing completed, the reviews were completed and a publisher found. The book has been set. The cover photograph of the Bay (taken from the spot where Hone Heke cut down the flagpole four times before a new peace was restored,) was taken by a well known New Zealand photographer. The book was set and is now ready for its first print run as a self-published and self-marketed volume.

It has already gained a great deal of interest from local book sellers including the Waitangi Treaty House and the Stone Store and should be available for the summer tourist season when some 60 cruise ships will visit the Bay.

As a Pledge Me investment the author is offering the first 100 books , signed by him, at the normal retail price of $30 per copy delivered  by mail to their choice of address. There is also a discount of two copies for just $50.  The funds received will be used to pay for the print run and early promotion including a launch at the Stone Store in Kerikeri.

It is a great investment in personal knowledge but is also a good read and a versatile gifting idea as well (perfect for a Seasons gift for friends or relatives overseas) who are often difficult to buy for.