Author(s): Kirstie Ross

Natural History

What does 'the bush' mean to Pakeha New Zealanders? Is it a particular type of vegetation, a place to tramp, something to save, or a refuge from civilisation? By exploring the meanings that Pakeha found in nature from the 1890s to the 1970s, Kirstie Ross shows that the bush was as much about conservative values as about conservation. Going Bush presents a fascinating account of New Zealand culture and society in the twentieth century that is powerfully relevant to debates over our relationship with the natural world today. First published September 2008.