Hello, all! There has been some great NZ non-fiction published over the last year or so, and many of them are proving very popular with our students, so I wanted to feature a few of them here.

If you are looking for a good read about a local, try one of these. All are available for borrowing at the Library of St Bede.

• Sam the Trap Man, by Sam Gibson – This autobiography is full of yarns about hunting, fishing and adventuring, from Sam’s teenage years until the present day. It’s funny, but also touching, and what really comes through is Sam’s deep love of the bush and protecting our ecosystem.

• Serviceman J, by Jamie Pennell – This biography is the untold story of a New Zealand SAS soldier, awarded NZ’s second highest military honour. He takes us through the SAS selection process, and through his deployments in Afghanistan, making for a thrilling read.

• Oh Boy: An Epic Storybook of NZ Men, by Stuart Lipshaw – This book gives brief, illustrated histories of a heap of inspirational NZ men. Very easy to dip in and out of, fabulous for reluctant readers.

• Further Off the Beaten Track: Epic Hunting Adventures of Land and Sea, by Dave Shaw – This is the second book featuring the Hunters Club, and features stories and photos of high country hunting and spearfishing adventures. You may recognise Dave and his team from TV.

• Dan Carter: The Art of Winning, by Dan Carter – In this inspirational book, Carter shares ten lessons on leadership, purpose and potential. It’s an easy read, and it’s not just for sports fans – Carter’s lessons can be applied to anything.

• View From the Second Row, by Daniel Whitelock – In this autobiography, the most capped All Black in history speaks about his career. Whitelock opens up about the trials, tribulations, pressures and joys of being an All Black.

• Kia Kaha: a Storybook of Maori who Changed the World, by Stacey Morrison – This illustrated book features short biographies on Maori who have blazed a trail and achieved incredible things. This one is also easy to read and would suit reluctant readers.

• Farm for Life: Mahi, Mana and Life on the Land, by Tangaroa Walker – This is the inspiring story of Tangaroa, who had a tough upbringing, but also a dream to play rugby. From rugby he moved to farming, and began a series of videos about the lessons he has learnt along the way.

• You’ll be Right: The Damian McKenzie Story, by David Riley – This fully illustrated, brief biography tells the story of Damian and his journey to becoming a rugby star.  Written in a format sure to appeal to reluctant or struggling readers, this story emphasises the power of self-belief.

• Tools for the Top Paddock, by Kane Brisco – In this book, Kane shares the lessons he has learnt from life on the land, and how essential it was that he looked after himself and his own mental health during the tough years.

• The Life of Dai, by Dai Henwood – In this moving book, Dai talks about his career as a comedian, but also about how his cancer diagnosis has shown him a new way to live and cherish the little things in life.

• The Road to Chatto Creek, by Matt Chisholm – Matt talks about the joys and tough realities of being a farmer, and also about his work as an ambassador for Rural Support Trust, which sees him give mental health advice to farmers.