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Our Islands, Our Selves. A History of Conservation in New Zealand, David Young
University of Otago Press
Reviewed by Lindsay Wright (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

The pen has often been much mightier than the chainsaw during the history of this country's conservation movement – and that pen has often been in the hand of David Young.

During his 12 years at the New Zealand Listener, or his excellent geographical history of the Whanganui – Faces of the River – and subsequent books, Young has written about the connection between New Zealanders and their land. His work has brought several important conservation issues into the public eye.

Those works have all been mustered and put into context with this beautifully produced and illustrated book. In the foreword, Young thanks his family for their love and support during the "intense period of work" it took to produce the book. I suspect that's an understatement.

Our Islands, Our Selves is an impressive piece of scholarship ... and journalism. The entrance price may seem a bit steep, but it is a special history of our country and ourselves. Pre-European and the last 200 years of conservation is linked to our sense of identity and community. It's a book readers will refer to over and again.

The book's 240 pages are sprinkled with colour pictures; some wonderful, others bland. This review copy will be passed on to a school library, so young conservationists will gather inspiration from it and help keep our islands, and our selves, intact.