New Releases by Sarah Ell

"This beautiful book packed with fantastic photography, tells the fascinating story of how the Zoo has evolved from its early days as a 'living museum' into a modern zoo that takes an active role in conserving wildlife in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world. All profits from the sale of this book will go towards Auckland Zoo's wildlife conservation work here in Aotearoa and across the globe."--Back cover.

Europeans had no idea what they would find when they first set eyes on Aotearoa. First Encounters selects some of the key writings from these early traders, missionaries, explorers and surveyors covering nearly 200 years from Abel Tasman in 1642 and Joseph Banks in 1769, through to early settlers such as John Logan Campbell in 1840. Their records of encounters with this new land and its Māori inhabitants reveal stories of wonder, curiosity, misunderstanding and adventure all with maximum interest and impact for modern readers. The text is liberally illustrated with two-colour imagery and historical photos, alongside fact boxes explaining historical language and events.

The story of the lost wonders of New Zealand's natural history: the extinct species that are now gone forever. Lost Wonders also features some key species that are on the brink - critically endangered - and the efforts that are being made to save them for future generations. moa • piopio • huia • laughing owl • grayling • meriki • Hutton's rail • Haast's eagle • Chatham Island bellbird • bush wren • adzebill • Chatham Islands fernbird • Eyles' harrier • greater short-tailed bat • Hawkins' rail • kawekaweau • koreke • Lyall's wren • moho • South Island snipe • whekau These are just some of the lost wonders of Aotearoa. Here are their stories. *** Illustrated with line drawings by Phoebe Morris, this book tells true stories about our lost and threatened species and the people involved in their extinction and/or recovery. The tales of these fascinating creatures - birds, insects, reptiles and plants - are delivered in an entertaining and accessible style, drawing on research and first-hand accounts and delving into the social climate in New Zealand at the time when the extinctions occurred. Perfect for confident readers aged 8-12. Featured species include those that are long gone, such as New Zealand's dinosaurs; those that disappeared following the human habitation of New Zealand, including the moa, piopio, huia, laughing owl and native fish the grayling; those that were lost and found, such as the takahe, taiko, the flowering vine Tecomanthe speciosa and the weevils of Canterbury; and those at risk of extinction: among them the kakapo, Maui dolphin, kauri and whitebait.

Get ready for a new take on New Zealand society, history and geography in one of the first two books in The NZ Series, a snappily designed and fact-packed collection for intermediate and high-school age readers. Here in striking and clear terms are the earth movements above and below New Zealand - with investigation into the history of volcanic and earthquake activity, leading to the present-day status for the country. The informative, easy-to-understand text is accompanied by numerous explanatory diagrams, historical and modern-day photographs and `Fact File' boxes. Ours is a physically small country but it packs a powerful amount of geological portraiture into its landscape, as does the keen design of Volcanoes and Earthquakes in New Zealand.

Lying in the middle of a vast ocean, Aotearoa New Zealand was the last habitable land mass in the world to be settled by humans. Our history represents the powerful coming-together of two great seafaring traditions, Polynesian and European.Oceantells the stories of pioneers and trail-blazers, from the big names who left their mark on our history to everyday folk whose fates were dictated by time and tide. There are chancers and entrepreneurs, exploiters and environmentalists, war-makers and lifesavers. From myth and migration to exploitation and industry; from the word of God and the pursuit of money to summer carnivals and the oldest sporting trophy in the world, these stories of ships, sailors and seekers show how our relationship with the sea has been pivotal throughout our history, while the contemporary stories of those whose lives are deeply connected to the ocean bring our maritime past into the now.Magnificently illustrated with diverse imagery, Oceanis a spirited collection of historical tales, a landmark book about how the ocean has shaped New Zealand and its people.Published with the assistance of Manatu Taonga - Ministry for Culture and Heritage

A celebration of New Zealand for both New Zealanders and visitors to enjoy and cherish. It's a big ask to sum up what makes a nation tick, and what its people treasure and love. It can be done by selecting objects, music, poems, songs, recipes, heroes and touchstones that stand for the myriad strands that combine to create a national culture. That's what this book seeks to do - it's a sampler of New Zealand's storehouse of treasures, to take home to be part of yours. Chapters include Our Maori Heritage, Our Flag, Our Stars, Our Shaky Isles, Our National Anthem, Our Most Famous Haka, Our Splendid Wild Places, Our Farms, The Land And Its Painters, Birds We Love, Trees We Love, Songs We Love, Our Most Famous Short Story, Our Heroes, Our Poets, Things We Do For Fun, We Like To Entertain, Days That Are Important To Us and How We Say Goodbye. Beautifully illustrated, with stunning photographs by some of this country's best photographers, it's a book for New Zealanders to share with friends, family and associates who live overseas - and also a book that reminds us of how lucky we are to live here.

The story of the world's only superstar bird - Sirocco the kakapo, an endangered bird who thinks he's human. Written for children 5-12, with beautiful full colour photography. Sirocco the kakapo is a superstar - he has 10,000+ followers on Facebook and almost 4000 followers on Twitter. And you may have seen the incredible footage on Youtube of him trying to mate with a BBC presenter's head. Not only is he one of the last 124 of his species left on the planet, he has a very special role to play promoting the recovery of his kind and in conservation in general. This junior non-fiction book tells the story of the remarkable parrot who has become a worldwide sensation. The narrative follows Sirocco's journey from sick chick to conservation superstar, with sidebars of more specific information about the kakapo and the recovery programme.

This magnificent book contains a selection of more than 200 images of New Zealand from the air. Taken from the White's Aviation collection at the Alexander Turnbull Library, These images of towns, cities, landforms and events were taken from the 1930s to the 1970s, and show a landscape still familiar in some cases and changed beyond recognition in others. These stunning black and white images represent an important phase in New Zealand's aviation, aerial photography and publishing industries, and are fascinating to look at. They combine historical interest with that natural curiosity of seeing recognisable landforms and places from a completely different perspective. The selection of images is accompanied by an introduction to the collection, historical background on aviation pioneer Leo White and his company and an exclusive interview with key White's employee Clyde Stewart.

Margaret Foster is one of New Zealand's best-known netball coaches and one of the game's most insightful analysts. She has also just completed a course of chemotherapy for her second round of cancer. Silver Linings tells the story of Margaret's fight to survive cancer. Beginning with her first diagnosis of breast cancer in 2006, through to her joy at being given the all clear and then the later news that the cancer had spread to her ovaries, it describes, in an often painful but also humorous way, the realities of life as a cancer patient. Her account contains a strong self-help angle, where Margaret uses her skills learned as a professional coach to encourage other cancer sufferers, giving them hope, faith and a sense of purpose. She believes that people will be better able to cope if they know what they are in for. She also covers the netball stories: detailing the highs and lows of both her playing and coaching careers, analysing her own coaches and letting us in on a few behind the scenes secrets. Marg also shares the story of her adoption into a Pakeha family. This is an emotional and touching story that will reach out to other New Zealanders who are affected by cancer.

How to Speak Yachtie is an essential guide to a language spoken by those who sail competitively or for fun. Essential for those absolute beginners who don't know their sheets from their tails, it will also entertain fluent Yachtie speakers and those who aspire to greater mastery of the language, and be a vital companion for all those following - and trying to make sense of - New Zealand's challenge for the 2007 America's Cup. Seemingly impenetrable to the uninitiated, the language of Yachtie is rich in words and phrases borrowed from nautical history and popular slang, expressions that have completely unexpected meanings and multiple names for objects and actions. How to Speak Yachtie explains the meanings and origins of more than 200 such words and expressions. From parts of the boat and basic sailing terms to racing jargon and commentator-speak, the book offers practical yet humorous definitions. In the style of a foreign language phrasebook, it also offers advice on what to say when, as well as what not to say.

A perfect gift for Christmas (and indeed for any time of year), this sister volume to the successful Map New Zealand is a treasure trove of Christmas Kiwiana from down the years. Drawing on the Turnbull's extensive collection, the selection of utterly charming Christmas cards, Christmas Day dinner menus, photographs, recipes, advertisements and poster art show the various ways in which we've celebrated Christmas and our nation over time.

On 15 May 2006, double amputee Mark Inglis fulfilled a childhood ambition - to stand on the top of the highest mountain in the world. HIGH-TECH LEGS ON EVEREST tells the story of how he got there, and then the equally gripping tale of how he got back down again. There are plenty of illustrations and boxed material to enliven the pages of a story that is already colourful.

Katie is 16, and right into sailing, school friends, and boyfriends. Then suddenly her world falls apart when she discovers she has Hodgkins disease. Suggested level: secondary.

The perfect resource for getting started with small boats.

While an influenza epidemic is sweeping through Auckland at the end of the First World War, Jimmy Kavanagh is left alone with his Uncle Rory when his mother takes his younger brothers and sisters away to the country. Jimmy is caught up in Uncle Rory's mysterious mission to right a wrong which occurred while he was fighting in the trenches of France. Suggested level: intermediate, junior secondary.

Whether it's stormy weather or calm blue seas, it doesn't matter to Geraldine because sailing her beloved P class is her favourite thing to do. With two big races coming up, she's ready to conquer. But disaster strikes, forcing her to rethink everything. Suggested level: primary, intermediate.

Tells the story of some of the first European settlers in New Zealand, the sealers and whalers, of their way of life, methods, industry, and equipment, plus touches on the whale-sighting industry of today.