Harbouring
Pattrick, JennyLike so many migrants, the Pengellins from Wales are seeking a better life, and New Zealand, on the other side of the world, beckons. Working as a procurer for Colonel Wakefield and the New Zealand Company, Huw is thrust into the development of early Wellington, while Martha must establish their home. Hineroa Taroaroa also yearns for a different future, one where she is no longer a slave.
Narrated by Huw, Martha and Hineroa, this is a captivating story of the fledgling settlement, of the cauldron of colonisation, and New Zealand history brought to vibrant life.
Pages
297
297
Year
2022
2022
Reviews
24-09-2024
This book offers an insight into the history around the establishment of Wellington back in the 1840s. It showed how the Maori were displaced from their ancestral lands.
20-09-2024
Most of us enjoyed this book and found the history interesting. Some of it we knew, some of it we didn't. Easy to read but a couple felt that it lacked depth. Great discussion about what it would've been like and talked about the different groups trying to live together without really understanding or respecting each other's cultures. One knew the Wellington areas well and another lady had a grandmother (a few generations back) who was a Maori lady who married to a white settler in the same era - she loved this book.
17-09-2024
Most of the group enjoyed this book but it felt a little under-written. It led us to a lot of looking up histories online and talking about our own known histories. The treatment of the different groups represented in the book and how the story intersected with more well-known history was well done.
02-09-2024
We appreciated the historical aspect woven into the story about the lives of worker immigrants in the settling of the Wellington region, the immense challenges which they faced with courage and resourcefulness. Some were not aware of how Wakefield had gone about misleading the natives into accepting goods for land acquisition, and selling land to English investors. Good to have this mistreatment of Maori spelled out in the story - would be a good selective read to learn about the misdeeds of colonialism and the continuing impact on our present society...
01-07-2024
Our group really enjoyed the book and really appreciated the way Jenny Pattrick portrayed history through the eyes of her memorable characters. Great discussion, many disturbing aspects and an interesting portrayal of character. One former secondary school teacher felt it would be a great read for students who would be challenged to look at our history from many different perspectives. An easy read.
25-06-2024
The group thought that this was an excellent historical account of the life of the working class in the settlement of Wellington in 1839 and 1840. One of our members had family connections with the place and that time in history. It is interesting how the phonetics of Pito One has become Petone, although not much of a change really.
25-06-2024
Lots of information but an easy read. Loved the story and the history.
18-06-2024
This book created a lot of discussion about who should/can tell whose stories. Interesting N.Z. history that we all enjoyed learning about.
23-05-2024
For the first time in years everyone in the group enjoyed the book.
19-04-2024
We really liked this book.
22-02-2024
An easy read for most, but some felt it lacked depth of character. An unbiased perspective of both Maori and Pakeha. Interesting to learn of the Welsh settlers.
23-01-2024
Generally we enjoyed this book. Being Christchurch based, it was interesting for us to learn about the early days in Wellington.
15-12-2023
'Harbouring' clearly illustrates the differences between the culture of Maori and the Europeans. In hygiene matters particularly, the Maori were better adapted. It makes us realise the stories we have been told as children are inaccurate. The New Zealand Company was negligent and almost criminal in its attempts to colonise N.Z. for their own profit.
28-11-2023
The majority really enjoyed this book. We did wonder what the new immigrants thought was going to be here! Very interesting insight into our early history. One of our best discussion nights.
23-11-2023
The majority really enjoyed this book. We did wonder what the new immigrants thought was going to be here in the way of homes for them. Very interesting insight into our early History. One of our best discussion nights.
16-11-2023
Very interesting read. Some of the group have got hold of copies of the author's other books.
02-11-2023
The group as a whole enjoyed this book. It was enjoyably written. We appreciated the way the different perspectives were presented. Great insights into the lives of the immigrants and the Tangata Whenua. Great book!
13-10-2023
The majority of our group really enjoyed learning about our history. Especially liked the fact that Hineroa and Martha were portrayed as strong female characters. Lots of disturbing facts emerged about treatment of indigenous people by the settlers - good history for younger ( and older) generations to understand what really happened.
20-09-2023
An interesting book for our group. Set in our area as the mouth of the fish of the North Island. We found the three characters involved in telling their stories were all well developed. We were intrigued by the author's use of 'Harbouring' as the title with both the Wellington harbour providing shelter for ships, as well as the characters' secret thoughts.
16-08-2023
Very positive reaction to the book which was enjoyed by all. It was so interesting reading about the Wakefield Company, and the early settlement of Wellington and Kapiti. As a Kapiti group, the story and links to the history of our area was factual and interesting. Excellent writing.
06-07-2023
We all enjoyed this book - especially as it's set in our home town! We recognised many of the landmarks and streets. We also agreed we had learned a lot about Wellington's history, not to mention the dire conditions in Wales at that time.
27-06-2023
All members enjoyed this book, especially the N.Z. history running parallel with the storyline. Our discussions centred a lot on the inner strengths that came out of Martha and Hineroa and the adaptations made with both cultures dealing with a changing world. The Treaty of Waitangi was discussed at length also.
23-06-2023
Our group loved this story and how the author brought our history alive.
14-06-2023
We enjoyed the historical parts/Maori history, and the diverse characters held our interest. If there is a sequel we would love to read it.
07-06-2023
A comfortable read, and the local history was a bonus. Some thought it was a bit overtly instructive - but respected the depth of the research involved.
03-05-2023
Most commented on their lack of knowledge of this period in N.Z's past, and had researched for further facts.
21-03-2023
Most members thoroughly enjoyed this book about early C19th NZ history with both fictional characters and some who really existed. It was especially interesting to those who know Wellington well. Jenny Pattrick is a popular writer with group members; this is, perhaps, not her best book but it is still a very entertaining and well-researched novel.