Blog Archives

Editorial – Issue 98

Posted on June 1, 2012 by NZ Books

Two issues beyond the 20th anniversary edition of New Zealand Books and two before our 100th issue, we’ve reached another milestone. The determined enthusiasts who founded the journal might well have predicted the first two, and will certainly have hoped…

Tagged with: Harry Ricketts, Issue 98, Jane Westaway, Winter 2012
Posted in ebooks, Editorial

Editorial – Issue 96

Posted on December 1, 2011 by NZ Books

Many Happy Returns! We’re delighted to be writing the editorial for this 20th anniversary issue of New Zealand Books. It contains the usual excellent reviews, but also new poetry and prose, and reflections from leading writers and those in the…

Tagged with: Harry Ricketts, Issue 96, Jane Westaway, Summer 2011
Posted in Editorial

Editorial – Issue 93

Posted on March 1, 2011 by NZ Books

Creative tensions Few things are more mystifying than other people’s fascinations. Stamp collecting, astrology or devoted re-enactment of famous battle scenes appear, to the non-enthusiast, at best inexplicable, at worst embarrassing, silly and – to misapply a line from Monty…

Tagged with: Autumn 2011, Issue 93
Posted in Editorial

Editorial – Issue 88

Posted on December 1, 2009 by NZ Books

Going online Now in its 18th year, New Zealand Books is coming of age. Starting with this issue, you’ll be able to read us online as well as in print. Thanks to the foresight of our publisher Peppercorn Press and the generosity of…

Tagged with: Harry Ricketts, Issue 88, Jane Westaway, Summer 2009
Posted in Editorial

Editorial – Issue 84

Posted on December 1, 2008 by NZ Books

Tagged with: Issue 84, Summer 2008
Posted in Editorial

Editorial – Issue 83

Posted on September 1, 2008 by NZ Books

Hares and tortoises Readers, reviewers and authors may have noticed (and perhaps even grumbled) that NZB reviews tend to run rather later in the life of a book than those broadcast, or appearing elsewhere. Newspapers, magazines and radio usually feature…

Tagged with: Issue 83, Spring 2008
Posted in Editorial

Editorial – Issue 80

Posted on December 1, 2007 by NZ Books

Fruit and veg Who’d be a judge? Particularly a literary judge. As Kevin Ireland once observed, when you’re a judge, the only ones who love you are the winners. Which, taken to the other extreme, can mean former mates crossing…

Tagged with: Harry Ricketts, Issue 80, Jane Westaway, Summer 2007
Posted in Editorial

Editorial – Issue 79

Posted on September 1, 2007 by NZ Books

The haunting Street banners calling for donations to the annual City Mission book sale had us each confidently scanning our shelves for give-aways, applying a literary version of that wardrobe rule – haven’t worn it for at least two seasons?…

Tagged with: Harry Ricketts, Issue 79, Jane Westaway, Spring 2007
Posted in Editorial

Editorial – Issue 77

Posted on March 1, 2007 by NZ Books

A modest makeover With this, its 77th issue, New Zealand Books reverts to a quarterly, and one with a new look: notably, a striking front cover, a fresh typeface and an elegant new page design. It is, of course, common…

Tagged with: Autumn 2007, Harry Ricketts, Issue 77, Jane Westaway
Posted in Editorial

Editorial – Issue 75

Posted on September 1, 2006 by NZ Books

The importance of being earnest Palmerston North writer Craig Harrison once glumly observed in an interview with one of us that, although the trend might be apparent only to someone who had read all 140 entries in Palmerston North’s Evening…

Tagged with: Harry Ricketts, Issue 75, Jane Westaway, Spring 2006
Posted in Editorial