Book "An Accidental Bushman"
Buy a book for someone for Xmas. Kerikeri author & adventurer, Ross Lockyer writes about back-country New Zealand in the 1950s and early 1960s and the life and adventures of a young Forest Ranger Trainee and his incorrigible companions.
Cost $30 + postage.
You can buy a copy off TradeMe by clicking on the following link: www.trademe.co.nz...
An Accidental Bushman.
The Making of a Forest Ranger.
Growing up in small town Taranaki, Ross just knew that he enjoyed hunting, hiking, trapping, fishing & exploring the back-country of New Zealand.
In "An Accidental Bushman" (the prequel to his New Guinea book "Cannibals, Crocodiles and Cassowaries") Ross tells about some of the incorrigible larrikins, precarious predicaments & hair-raising exploits that shaped his training & early career as a Forest Ranger in New Zealand.
Ross has a way of telling a story that draws you into the moment & sweeps you along with the action. There are plenty of laughs (some at Ross’s expense) & enough scrapes & shenanigans to make you wonder how Ross ever survived to write the book!
"An Accidental Bushman" sometimes reads like a hilarious instruction book of what not to do, with many of Ross’s ill-fated adventures stemming from what simply seems like a good idea at the time—like his disastrous introduction to boating with no experience, no safety gear, and ultimately no working engine! Ross makes a habit of crashing vehicles, manufactures cyanide possum bait (and lives to tell the tale), gets seriously lost in the bush, spends a night in a haunted hut, gets marooned on a river island amidst swirling floodwaters, contracts hypothermia & survives some memorable culinary disasters. It’s clear that without his uncanny knack of always falling on his feet, Ross wouldn’t be with us to tell these stories today.
Ross also shares yarns of the colourful bunch of larrikins with whom he trained, worked, hunted & socialised, regaling us with tales of interrupted trysts, foul revenge, forest fires, thieving wildlife, crippling hangovers, poaching, parties & motorised mayhem.
The book includes some 60 photographs from Ross’s vast collection which richly illustrate his writing.
A thoroughly enjoyable read written in a warm intimate Kiwi style.
Settle in for another book of rip-roaring adventures that’s as hard to put down as the last one!
For more information go to the author’s website: www.rosslockyer.co.nz...
Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
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53.1% Yes
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46.9% No
Sunday Christmas Market @ Reyburn House Town Basin
Sunday 14 December · 9:00AM – 2:00PM
Reyburn House, Town Basin, Whangārei
Get ready for a festive day out at our Sunday Christmas Market!
Wander through a wonderland of arts, crafts, handmade gifts, delicious food, and unique local shopping—perfect for those last-minute Christmas presents or a special treat for yourself!
- Dog Friendly – Bring your furry friends along
- Free Parking
- Free Entry – Everyone welcome!
Whether you're supporting local makers, enjoying the holiday atmosphere, or just looking for a relaxing Sunday outing by the water, this is the place to be.
Location: 17–30 Reyburn House Lane, Town Basin, Whangārei
Come and celebrate the magic of the season with us! ✨
See you there!
Poll: Over summer, how do you reclaim your sense of home in Northland?
When tourists take over the streets and parking disappears, where do you find your calm?
Or is summer’s hustle something to enjoy rather than escape?
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75% I enjoy the summer hubbub!
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25% Please, give me some peace
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0% I escape the region during summer
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