Arohanui: My Aotearoa New Zealand product reviews

I assumed that Arohanui: My Aotearoa New Zealand would prove to be yet another coffee table glossy picture book, meant for dipping into regularly. However, I was happy to be proved wrong. There is so much to learn in these pages - from the diverse points of view to the wide range of work and life experiences to the vibrant photography, this book demanded to be read in one sitting. So I did! One difficulty I have in writing this review is in referring to the inhabitants of our islands. I have reluctantly deferred to the term "Kiwis" rather than the wordier "New Zealanders", or even the clumsy "Inhabitants of Aotearoa", despite the validity of the argument put forward by Sue Bradford

There was reassurance for me in finding that so many people agree with my own world view, both globally and within the confines of Aotearoa New Zealand itself. A significant number have grown up in environments similar to my own, so I suspect that many other readers will have the same reaction. Reading about common experiences is empowering because it somehow validates individual life events. There was even a sense of deja vu in realising that I know some of the featured contributors.

Common themes for both tangata whenua and tangata tiriti are the love of this country and the importance of familiarity with and acknowledgement of Maori roots and traditions. The prevailing mood is one of general positivity towards Aotearoa New Zealand, an indicator that we have to be doing something right. I also found that, even when comments were negative, there were accompanying suggestions on how this could be remedied. This is a country of fix-it-yourself experts, and it shows!

The most memorable quote for me was from Detective Inspector Scott Beard. After managing to sum up the essence of what it means to be a Kiwi - kindness, pride in one's work, supporting a society where respect for life is a basic tenet, and acknowledging the importance of our Maori tradition - he shares a useful piece of advice. This takes the form of guidance for visitors in their interaction with Kiwis: "Be kind, polite, friendly... and don't be over opinionated. Talk sport."

Not that Scott Beard is the only one to make statements that truly resonate. Michele Cox explains that the way to endear yourself to Kiwis is to refer to Australia as the West Island. And many of the contributors look nostalgically back to their homeland when travelling overseas. They miss things like the space (Tanya Moir), the accent (Janet Peters), the clean air (Serj Tankein), the beach (David Hartnell), and the ocean (Ruby Jones).

Topics mentioned by many as essential characteristics of Kiwis are the role of sport as a great leveller, and the ability to get away from it all in a country that still boasts plenty of untamed and uninhabited areas. And a few are critical of our "tall poppy" syndrome and our constant need to apologise. Editor Rosemary Hepozden has done a sterling job in organising and arranging the contributions so that each offers a unique and fascinating perspective. I just wish this book had been published in hard cover so it would withstand lots of handling. Certainly, it is one that deserves a place on every Kiwi bookshelf if not the coffee table!