West: The history of Waitakere

by Finlay MacDonald (Editor), Ruth Kerr (Editor)

Generation after generation of New Zealanders have been fascinated by Auckland's West. Dynamic and distinctive, it's a unique region, ranging from a dramatic and rugged coastline to bush-clad ranges to fertile hill slopes nurturing orchards and vineyards.

Its people have always been industrious, from the early timber millers to modern-day boat builders, and from pioneering artists, craftspeople and writers to filmmakers. It's long been a region for the passionate, the determined, the resourceful, the individualistic and the visionary.

West covers it all, from the days of pre-European battles and early land negotiations to contemporary politics and lifestyles. Full of fascinating illustrations, this lively and accessible history has something for everyone who has ever spent time out West.

A range of writers, all with an affinity for the West, were commissioned to write chapters in their areas of expertise.

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Finlay Macdonald has worked as a journalist, editor, publisher and broadcaster in New Zealand since 1986. He was editor of the New Zealand Listener magazine from 1998 to 2003, commissioning editor at Penguin New Zealand from 2003 to 2005, and a weekly columnist for the Sunday Star-Times from 2003 to 2011. He continues to work as a writer and broadcaster, and lives in Auckland with his wife Carol Hirschfeld and their two children.

Reviews

[Iain Hosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

West promised to be awesome, but had a lack of cohesion, and lots of repetition. Too many authors. Amazing history and yet it all felt watered down and tepid. not like the West at all.