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New Zealand
New Zealand: A Novel spans almost 500 years and covers the respective discoveries of New Zealand by Pacific Islanders and Europeans. From the outset the two stories are interposed. It starts in the 1300’s with the departure of Islanders from Hawaiki in search of land far to the south.
The hardy, brown-skinned people who arrive here first call themselves Maori and they call their new home Aotearoa – land of the long, white cloud. The fascinating, eventful and sometimes violent lives of descendants of those first arrivals are traced through the centuries until the arrival of Europeans aboard Captain James Cook’s bark the Endeavour. Cook names the new land New Zealand.
Maoris call the white intruders pakeha. Their arrival heralds a clash of two vastly different ideologies as European civilization collides head on with indigenous culture.
The misunderstandings, tension and bloodshed that follow are relayed as seen through the eyes of one of the Endeavour’s youngest and most engaging crewmembers, Surgeon’s Assistant Nicholas Young, as the vessel embarks on its historic circumnavigation of the country.
Amidst the life-threatening challenges Nicholas faces at sea and on land, the young man finds true love when he meets Anika, a beautiful Maori princess who steals his heart.
The hardy, brown-skinned people who arrive here first call themselves Maori and they call their new home Aotearoa – land of the long, white cloud. The fascinating, eventful and sometimes violent lives of descendants of those first arrivals are traced through the centuries until the arrival of Europeans aboard Captain James Cook’s bark the Endeavour. Cook names the new land New Zealand.
Maoris call the white intruders pakeha. Their arrival heralds a clash of two vastly different ideologies as European civilization collides head on with indigenous culture.
The misunderstandings, tension and bloodshed that follow are relayed as seen through the eyes of one of the Endeavour’s youngest and most engaging crewmembers, Surgeon’s Assistant Nicholas Young, as the vessel embarks on its historic circumnavigation of the country.
Amidst the life-threatening challenges Nicholas faces at sea and on land, the young man finds true love when he meets Anika, a beautiful Maori princess who steals his heart.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2024
30 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Lance Morcan
37 books625 followersNew Zealand novelist and screenwriter Lance Morcan is a prolific author with more than 30 published fiction and non-fiction books to his credit as well as several screenplay adaptations of his work. A former journalist and newspaper editor, he regularly writes in collaboration with his son James Morcan, and their books are published by Sterling Gate Books.
The father-and-son team's published books include the crime thriller Silent Fear (A novel inspired by true crimes) and the bestselling historical adventures White Spirit and Into the Americas.
They also have several series on the market including:
The Orphan Trilogy, an international thriller series.
The globetrotting action-romance series The World Duology.
And the controversial non-fiction franchise The Underground Knowledge Series.
The Morcans have adapted several of their novels as feature film screenplays and these are in early development.
An additional non-fiction title, Debunking Holocaust Denial Theories, was written in collaboration with Holocaust survivors to document the genocide.
The Morcans' books have been translated into eight languages (Arabic, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Norwegian, French, Afrikaans, German).
Lance's first solo-authored novel, an epic historical adventure titled New Zealand: A Novel was published in December 2024. A tale of conflict, lust and adventure, it spans almost 500 years and covers the respective discoveries of New Zealand by Pacific Islanders and Europeans.
From the outset the two stories are interposed. It starts in the 1300’s with the departure of Islanders from Hawaiki in search of land far to the south. A land Maori will name Aotearoa.
Watch this space! https://morcanbooksandfilms.com/categ...
The father-and-son team's published books include the crime thriller Silent Fear (A novel inspired by true crimes) and the bestselling historical adventures White Spirit and Into the Americas.
They also have several series on the market including:
The Orphan Trilogy, an international thriller series.
The globetrotting action-romance series The World Duology.
And the controversial non-fiction franchise The Underground Knowledge Series.
The Morcans have adapted several of their novels as feature film screenplays and these are in early development.
An additional non-fiction title, Debunking Holocaust Denial Theories, was written in collaboration with Holocaust survivors to document the genocide.
The Morcans' books have been translated into eight languages (Arabic, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Norwegian, French, Afrikaans, German).
Lance's first solo-authored novel, an epic historical adventure titled New Zealand: A Novel was published in December 2024. A tale of conflict, lust and adventure, it spans almost 500 years and covers the respective discoveries of New Zealand by Pacific Islanders and Europeans.
From the outset the two stories are interposed. It starts in the 1300’s with the departure of Islanders from Hawaiki in search of land far to the south. A land Maori will name Aotearoa.
Watch this space! https://morcanbooksandfilms.com/categ...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 30, 2024
Riveting. I could not put the book down. Historical facts were woven with some well-crafted narratives into a story of how the nation of New Zealand came to be. The knowledge of the author about native beliefs, customs, and the way of life in the tribal communities of the south Pacific coupled with Captain Cook, the explorer of legend, made this a compelling and exciting story to read. And now I am just waiting for the movie!
December 18, 2024
What a great story!
This is a story of the beginnings of New Zealand, warts and all and very well researched and written. A good insight into the early settlers in NZ, both Māori and Pakeha but told with a flair for the story and information and facts laid out with clarity, that both New Zealanders as well as those who have never been here would find factual and interesting.
The sex scenes were tastefully done as well!!
This is a story of the beginnings of New Zealand, warts and all and very well researched and written. A good insight into the early settlers in NZ, both Māori and Pakeha but told with a flair for the story and information and facts laid out with clarity, that both New Zealanders as well as those who have never been here would find factual and interesting.
The sex scenes were tastefully done as well!!
November 11, 2024
500 years of history in one epic novel!
NB: This is a review from the publisher.
NB: This is a review from the publisher.
January 1, 2025
A Great Romp of a Read and Hard to put down. A Real Page Turner. It nicely entertains in the formula of the popular epic writers while using known history ,myths and legends of how New Zealand came to be peopled and explored in those very early times. If you live in or have any connections with Aotearoa it’s well worth a read.
December 11, 2024
Wow, what a fantastic novel. Lance Morcan has that special talent of being able to pull you into the story, so you can vividly picture everything that’s going on. The struggles of the indigenous people are not something one can possibly imagine, and courage it must have taken to leave their home in search of a better place. I always enjoy reading about Captain Cook, and this has been incorporated really well into this story. I’m amazed at how much has been packed into this wonderful book. It’s well worth a read and easily worth the 5/5 Star Rating.
October 16, 2025
Great book. Morcan expertly weaves historical facts with well constructed narratives to create a picture of what the early history of New Zealand may have looked like. This novel is an example of how historical fiction can sometimes reveal more than something with perfect historical accuracy. Especially when there is little evidence beyond oral history of what actually happened. The way that it explains how cannibalism was necessitated through overpopulation, and slowly grew to be a part of the culture is particularly fascinating.
A significant symbol in the novel is the dog. At the beginning, the Hawaiikans leave Hawaiiki to get away from the dogfaces. As the years pass in the new land of Aotearoa, they fall into the practices of the dogfaces, raiding other tribes’ pa, taking their women and children as slaves, rape and cannibalism. This is shown as the Māori now wear dogskin for clothing. They have become the very thing that their ancestors sought to get away from.
A very fascinating read that delves into a time in our history as a nation that is very rarely talked about in detail. The novel shows the importance of our nation’s history, and provides a document for a time in our history that is very undocumented, ensuring that the details of it don’t become even more lost to the ages.
A significant symbol in the novel is the dog. At the beginning, the Hawaiikans leave Hawaiiki to get away from the dogfaces. As the years pass in the new land of Aotearoa, they fall into the practices of the dogfaces, raiding other tribes’ pa, taking their women and children as slaves, rape and cannibalism. This is shown as the Māori now wear dogskin for clothing. They have become the very thing that their ancestors sought to get away from.
A very fascinating read that delves into a time in our history as a nation that is very rarely talked about in detail. The novel shows the importance of our nation’s history, and provides a document for a time in our history that is very undocumented, ensuring that the details of it don’t become even more lost to the ages.
February 11, 2025
Disclosure. This is a review of an e-book I was sent for free. All opinions are my own.
This story is based on early New Zealand history, weaving together fact, myth and fiction. Plenty of adventure and romance included.
The tale begins circa 1300AD in the South Pacific on the mythical island Hawaiki. After being attacked again, Chief Hotu persuades some of his people to follow the migrating cuckoos and sail south with him to find the land that his ancestor Kupe discovered centuries earlier. They build and provision huge 80-foot long canoes that will carry 80 people each for a journey that could be months long. An amazing feat.
Meanwhile we jump forward to London 1768 where 17 year old Nicholas Young joins Captain James Cook and the crew of the Endeavour as Surgeon’s Assistant, on a trip of two halves, firstly to travel to Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus between Earth and the Sun, and secondly hoping to discover the Great Southern Continent.
The story continues skipping back and forth through history, chronicling successes, disasters and challenges. We also visit the inter-tribal fighting between Maoris circa 1500 and when Captain Abel Tasman was the first European to reach New Zealand in 1642, plus the interactions between Maoris and Europeans.
In particular, during part 2 of the story, as Cook’s vessel circumnavigates the coast of New Zealand, Nicholas forms a deep friendship with Moki, a young Maori warrior and falls in love with Moki’s cousin Anika.
I truly could picture the characters in my mind’s eye. It is told so well from the viewpoints of Hotu and his descendants, and from Nicholas and the other crew members, plus other key Tahitian characters.
This is an amazing tale, with such vivid detail woven in. Customs and traditions. Although I didn’t want to put it down, I kept getting sidetracked to look things up online.
And the ending brought the tale to a satisfying conclusion.
I was impressed with how much painstaking research by the author has gone into this book. Not only history, but science and nature too, encompassing events like the Transit of Venus and the extinction of the moa.
I highly recommend this book. An epic read.
This story is based on early New Zealand history, weaving together fact, myth and fiction. Plenty of adventure and romance included.
The tale begins circa 1300AD in the South Pacific on the mythical island Hawaiki. After being attacked again, Chief Hotu persuades some of his people to follow the migrating cuckoos and sail south with him to find the land that his ancestor Kupe discovered centuries earlier. They build and provision huge 80-foot long canoes that will carry 80 people each for a journey that could be months long. An amazing feat.
Meanwhile we jump forward to London 1768 where 17 year old Nicholas Young joins Captain James Cook and the crew of the Endeavour as Surgeon’s Assistant, on a trip of two halves, firstly to travel to Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus between Earth and the Sun, and secondly hoping to discover the Great Southern Continent.
The story continues skipping back and forth through history, chronicling successes, disasters and challenges. We also visit the inter-tribal fighting between Maoris circa 1500 and when Captain Abel Tasman was the first European to reach New Zealand in 1642, plus the interactions between Maoris and Europeans.
In particular, during part 2 of the story, as Cook’s vessel circumnavigates the coast of New Zealand, Nicholas forms a deep friendship with Moki, a young Maori warrior and falls in love with Moki’s cousin Anika.
I truly could picture the characters in my mind’s eye. It is told so well from the viewpoints of Hotu and his descendants, and from Nicholas and the other crew members, plus other key Tahitian characters.
This is an amazing tale, with such vivid detail woven in. Customs and traditions. Although I didn’t want to put it down, I kept getting sidetracked to look things up online.
And the ending brought the tale to a satisfying conclusion.
I was impressed with how much painstaking research by the author has gone into this book. Not only history, but science and nature too, encompassing events like the Transit of Venus and the extinction of the moa.
I highly recommend this book. An epic read.
June 25, 2025
New Zealand: A Novel is more than just a historical saga — it’s a careful, character-focused look at what happens when very different worlds meet. Covering almost 500 years, Lance Morcan handles big historical events while keeping the story grounded in the lives of the people experiencing them. What stayed with me most was how the book didn’t just focus on major discoveries or conflicts, but also on the quieter, more personal moments of longing, loss, and connection.
The story moves between two timelines: one following the Polynesian settlers leaving Hawaiki in the 1300s in search of new land, and the other tracing the journey of Nicholas Young, a young surgeon’s assistant aboard Captain Cook’s Endeavour in the 18th century. Seeing the story unfold from both perspectives makes it clear that history isn’t only shaped by famous explorers and leaders, but also by ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events.
Morcan’s descriptions of Māori customs, intertribal conflicts, and the dangers of early sea voyages feel well-researched and engaging storytelling, yet the historical detail never overwhelms the narrative. The friendship between Nicholas and Moki, a young Māori warrior, adds a personal, human layer to what could have just been a story about cultures in conflict. Their bond offers one of the few moments of understanding and respect in a time full of mistrust and violence.
I also really appreciated how Morcan explores the idea of encounter — not just between nations, but between people, belief systems, and ways of life. The romance between Nicholas and Anika is handled well; it’s tender without being overdone, and it supports the larger story rather than distracting from it. I also liked the way the book touches on scientific and navigational history, like the Transit of Venus, which adds depth to the story without ever bogging it down.
At its heart, this is a novel about discovery — of new lands, new cultures, and of oneself. It left me thinking not just about New Zealand’s early history, but about the timeless human instinct to explore, to clash, and to find connection across differences. A vivid, compelling historical novel that still feels relevant today.
The story moves between two timelines: one following the Polynesian settlers leaving Hawaiki in the 1300s in search of new land, and the other tracing the journey of Nicholas Young, a young surgeon’s assistant aboard Captain Cook’s Endeavour in the 18th century. Seeing the story unfold from both perspectives makes it clear that history isn’t only shaped by famous explorers and leaders, but also by ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events.
Morcan’s descriptions of Māori customs, intertribal conflicts, and the dangers of early sea voyages feel well-researched and engaging storytelling, yet the historical detail never overwhelms the narrative. The friendship between Nicholas and Moki, a young Māori warrior, adds a personal, human layer to what could have just been a story about cultures in conflict. Their bond offers one of the few moments of understanding and respect in a time full of mistrust and violence.
I also really appreciated how Morcan explores the idea of encounter — not just between nations, but between people, belief systems, and ways of life. The romance between Nicholas and Anika is handled well; it’s tender without being overdone, and it supports the larger story rather than distracting from it. I also liked the way the book touches on scientific and navigational history, like the Transit of Venus, which adds depth to the story without ever bogging it down.
At its heart, this is a novel about discovery — of new lands, new cultures, and of oneself. It left me thinking not just about New Zealand’s early history, but about the timeless human instinct to explore, to clash, and to find connection across differences. A vivid, compelling historical novel that still feels relevant today.
December 26, 2024
New Zealand: A Novel by Lance Morcan is a fascinating read that spans hundreds of years and half the globe. A fictionalized account of Captain Cook’s first voyage around the world, its focus is the combined Royal Navy/Royal Society’s expedition to Tahiti to observe Venus’s transit across the sun, followed by exploration to discover Terra Australis Incognita, or what is now known as Australia. However, the novel centers on Cook’s discovery of, and stay on, New Zealand, and the Maoris’ arrival there several hundred years earlier.
Before reading New Zealand: A Novel, my total knowledge of that place was limited to having heard it was beautiful. I think most of us are more familiar with Australia, just over the Tasman Sea from New Zealand’s two islands.
After reading it, I’m awed that the Maori were able to take advantage of brief periods when the prevailing winds favored their journey. Morcan’s account of life on an 18th century ship is almost equally terrifying.
Apart from being a compelling story about a distant place and time, the adventures of the main character, an innocent young surgeon’s assistant on Cook’s ship are page-turners.
Lovers of adventure, exotic locales, and history should enjoy this read, which reminds me of James Mitchener’s novels in breadth and detail.
Before reading New Zealand: A Novel, my total knowledge of that place was limited to having heard it was beautiful. I think most of us are more familiar with Australia, just over the Tasman Sea from New Zealand’s two islands.
After reading it, I’m awed that the Maori were able to take advantage of brief periods when the prevailing winds favored their journey. Morcan’s account of life on an 18th century ship is almost equally terrifying.
Apart from being a compelling story about a distant place and time, the adventures of the main character, an innocent young surgeon’s assistant on Cook’s ship are page-turners.
Lovers of adventure, exotic locales, and history should enjoy this read, which reminds me of James Mitchener’s novels in breadth and detail.
December 8, 2024
Could this be The Great New Zealand novel? Fascinating!
New Zealand novelist and screenwriter Lance Morcan is a former journalist and newspaper editor with thirty published books to his credit. His ability to bring historical subjects to life is obvious in this new novel: blending fictional characters with actual key subjects makes learning history a fascinating journey into the past.
All aspects of New Zealand carry this novel from 1299 AD to the mid- 18th century – five centuries compressed into a fascinating ‘novel’ that pairs the discovery of a rugged land they call Aotearoa and the subsequent conflict between Maori tribes in the 1500s, allowing the introduction of a Maori lad, Moki, to become the face of the land. Captain James Cook, with the 17-year-old Nicholas Young accompanying Cook as the Surgeon’s Boy, sail from England to Tahiti where Nicholas bonds with Tahiti’s queen, Obadia. Subsequently Captain Cook and Nicholas sail to Niew Zeeland (the name Dutch explorer Abel Tasman assigned to the land he discovered in the 17th century), and the interaction between Moki and Nicholas make history credible: the name of the country is changed to New Zealand!
The interplay of Cook’s crew with the indigenous people follows – war and other challenges, all played on the stage in a manner that makes history come alive. Maps of New Zealand, with all the sites mentioned in the novel, add credibility and understanding of how this spectacular land developed. This is a fine novel that invites understanding of New Zealand’s fascinating history!
New Zealand novelist and screenwriter Lance Morcan is a former journalist and newspaper editor with thirty published books to his credit. His ability to bring historical subjects to life is obvious in this new novel: blending fictional characters with actual key subjects makes learning history a fascinating journey into the past.
All aspects of New Zealand carry this novel from 1299 AD to the mid- 18th century – five centuries compressed into a fascinating ‘novel’ that pairs the discovery of a rugged land they call Aotearoa and the subsequent conflict between Maori tribes in the 1500s, allowing the introduction of a Maori lad, Moki, to become the face of the land. Captain James Cook, with the 17-year-old Nicholas Young accompanying Cook as the Surgeon’s Boy, sail from England to Tahiti where Nicholas bonds with Tahiti’s queen, Obadia. Subsequently Captain Cook and Nicholas sail to Niew Zeeland (the name Dutch explorer Abel Tasman assigned to the land he discovered in the 17th century), and the interaction between Moki and Nicholas make history credible: the name of the country is changed to New Zealand!
The interplay of Cook’s crew with the indigenous people follows – war and other challenges, all played on the stage in a manner that makes history come alive. Maps of New Zealand, with all the sites mentioned in the novel, add credibility and understanding of how this spectacular land developed. This is a fine novel that invites understanding of New Zealand’s fascinating history!
January 7, 2026
Nice for getting an idea of NZ history
Though not a history book, not historically accurate but gives a „feel“ for what it might have been like. As a novel, an easy read but not outstanding
Though not a history book, not historically accurate but gives a „feel“ for what it might have been like. As a novel, an easy read but not outstanding
March 2, 2025
Excellent read and very interesting subject matter.
January 5, 2026
I did not finish this book, it was too back and forth for me to keep up with. I wasn’t really impressed with it either. Wasn’t the greatest in my opinion.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews