New Books - New Zealand

Our regular new books lists are still on hold while we work out a better way to produce these. In the meantime, here's a selection of books hot from our cataloguer's shelves and now available on open access in the Commonwealth Studies collection. These are all published in New Zealand (as I was there this time last year) by the Victoria University Press:

Richard Boast and Richard S. Hill (eds) Raupatu: The Confiscation of Maori Land, Wellington: Victoria University Press, 2009.
The confiscation of Maori land in the Waikato, Taranaki and in other regions by the state in 19th century New Zealand was a "revolutionary and complex process that continues to echo down to the present day". The book collects essays based on a conference hosted by the Stout Centre at Victoria University of Wellington in 2008. The contributors consider a range of issues and perspectives, setting the confiscation of Maori land into its broader political,. legal and imperial contexts.

Richard S. Hill, Maori and the State. Crown-Maori Relations in New Zelaand/Aotearoa, 1950-2000,  Wellington: Victoria University Press, 2009.
A companion volume to the author's State Authority, Indigenous Autonomy, which covered Crown-Maori relations in the first half of tweentieth century New Zealand, this book focuses on a complex series of interactions between the principle institutions of both state and Maori people. The book analyses Maori aspirations in terms of the longstanding quest for Crown recognition of rangatiratanga, and in doing so examines both continuities and changes, paying special attention to the impacts of post-WW2 migration by Maori to large towns and cities. It charts a period in which the official state policy of assimilation was superceded (under pressure) by a policy of biculturalism.

Stephen Levine and Nigel S. Roberts (eds) Key to Victory. The New Zealand General Election of 2008, Wellington: Victoria University Press, 2010.
A series of insiders’ views on New Zealand's most recent general election, this record shows how the National Party's John Key became the country's 38th Prime Minister. Accounts from politicians and media personalities describe the details of the successful campaign, with insightful observations from members of Parliament, academic commentators, and political columnists. A DVD included contains excerpts from televised party leaders’ debates, their opening night campaign addresses, and other campaign advertising.

Stephen Levine (ed) Pacific Ways. Government and Politics in the Pacific Islands, Wellington: Victoria University Press, 2009.
Contains expert chapters on each Pacific Island state and territory, discussing its historical background and colonial experience, its constitutional framework, political institutions, political parties, elections and electoral systems, and "problems and prospects". Countries included are: American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati,   Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn, Rapa Nui/Easter Island, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna, as well as a useful chapter on regional political institutions and transitions.