Awa Press imprint: 35 books

Ever wondered why most classical music concerts are such stuffy affairs? Had to bluff your way through classical music conversations? Trying to get a handle on music by modern composers? Failed to convince teenagers of the merits of Beethoven or Bach? Or just want an absorbing read about music? This...

Encompassing a review of important paintings worldwide—both classical and modern—this exploration assures that anyone can understand and admire art. The reader will find increased appreciation for paintings, greater knowledge of different artists, and improved confidence in this brilliant exposition...

Civilisation is Steve Braunias at his best, the scavenger of social lodestone, rich, fascinating and occasionally disturbing stories of settlements—from Kawakawa in the north, to Mosgiel in the south, and Samoa and Antarctica over the seas—and the people who live in them, their lives, loves, aspirations, and sometimes dark secrets.

An award-winning novelist reveals the books that have captivated her and the influence they have had on her life and writing. Highlighting a true love affair with books, this story emphasizes the transformative power of the written word.

On February 22, 2011, journalist Jane Bowron had been living in her hometown of Christchurch, New Zealand, when the city was struck by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake, only five months after a 7.1 earthquake. While the first quake had caused damage but no fatalities, the second became the ultimate horror...

A collection of New Zealand's most celebrated journalist's works, this lascivious selection of Steve Braunias's columns addresses a variety of topics, including the current state of New Zealand steak, the beauty of mangroves, the lunacy of film festivals, the attractions of small towns, the charms...

Well crafted and piercingly insightful, this collection of Steve Braunias’s 2007 interviews of New Zealand's famous and infamous-both publicity-seekers and those desperate to hide from the spotlight-is a humorous and biting survey of the national psyche. Ranging from the disturbingly naïve to the...

A brilliant road map for discovering history, science, civilization, and the human condition, this engaging record recommends must-read books: those so revealing about times and places that they take the reader beyond day-to-day concerns into a magic realm of knowledge and imagination. From Arthur...

To sail a boat is a magical, and sometimes mystical, experience. The sailor is free from the cares of life on land, entirely absorbed in the enterprise of moving a craft across the water. For the uninitiated, though, willingly putting oneself at the mercy of nature’s unpredictable forces, winds,...

This comprehensive and illuminating guide explores the entire spectrum of pop music, from Beatlemania and the long-playing record to Eminem and the iPod.

A single song catapulted 26-year-old Pauly Fuemana from the mean streets of South Auckland to global fame, and more money than he'd ever dreamt of. But behind OMC's huge international hit "How Bizarre" and its singer lurked a darker story, fully told here for the first time. Throughout most...

How do you deliver a "googly" or make chin music? What are a beamer, a flipper, a corker, and a jaffa? What do a bunny, a cherry, a dolly and a royal golden duck have to do with sports? Readers will discover the answers to these questions and learn much more about the noble sport of cricket...

In the not-so-distant past, hardly anyone had heard of New Zealand, let alone its films. But today there has been a seismic shift. New Zealand film-makers and their films are now winning acclaim in Hollywood and with audiences around the world. Some earn huge global box office returns. Others are...

Part geographical wandering, part New Zealand history, and part cultural study, this narrative recounts one man's personal journey into the world of birds and birdwatching. Written by an award-winning journalist and with black and white photographs taken by Major Geoffrey Buddle, it traces the fascinating history of people ensnared, captivated, and entranced by birds.