Station Life in New Zealand Paperback – 30 Oct. 2000

VToday's vsitors to New Zealand are reminded how early settlers thoughtlessly decimated the indigenous wildlife by hunting, bringing in their own livestock, pet dogs and cats, and plants. These letters home write in all innocence about doing these things, from the viewpoint of not knowing how their actions would affect the future. Really interesting.

I was given this book in hard back by a friend when I was planning my move to NZ. It is a really lovely story giving a real flavour of what was endured by those brave pioneers back in the day and gives a taste of the NZ of that time. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and loaned it to several friends who also raved about it. Unfortunately my dog then ate the book (honestly). I was thrilled when I found it on Amazon having searched for it for a while.Definitely worth reading. By the way I love my new life here in NZ. I can recommend both the book and the country wholeheartedly.

Liked the description of the countryside. Didn't like the repetition of references of stopping for breakfast/lunch/afternoon tea and what was eaten. Not sure who to recommend this book to as I thought it would give an insight into New Zealand life but it only dwells on the letters home of the young rather privileged lady, her experiences of outings and a few life events. She narrates politely in good old fashioned English.

very interesting and well written I enjoyed it

Downloaded immediately to my Kindle and it sitting there for me to read it en route to NZ. Hardy woman!

A lovely book giving great insight into early life in New Zealand. Descriptions of the sheep station are very well expressed

This gave a great insight into one aspect of NewZealand history from a female viewpoint. Showed how acceptability changes. Great!

Having been to NZ it was very interesting to read how an early settler saw things. How times and perceptions change.

Having recently come to live in NZ myself I was looking around for something to read which referred to how early female settlers lived and survived. I enjoyed this very much, especially the pictures she painted in my head with her words. Naturally times change and so do certain attitudes held then which would not be considered PC now. I think we have to try and look beyond that and read her work for her actual experiences rather than her attitudes to anyone who wasn't English. She is somewhat insular (as were the times) about the real Natives of NZ, the Irish and other foreigners - but that was the attitude at the time - but that doesn't change her ability to be ruled by the weather and the elements of her new home. Not even her stiff upper lip attitude can alter the course of a raging Nor' Wester or save her stock.

I looked forward to this book but found it unreadable since the font is too small. Would be nice if this was mentioned in the description when the print is smaller than average.

I was hoping for far more details about working and handling sheep in the ways the New Zealander's did in the past when I got this book. Unfortunately, this is a collection of letters from a 'high society' girl that was packed up and moved to the NZ outback with her fiancee. Granted, it's amusing and reasonably interesting to read how she sees the world, as well as a bit insightful into how at least one family thought of their slaves and house maids during a time fortunately long behind us.

This book is fascinating for anyone at all interested in New Zealand history or a general account of life in the past. It is surprisingly well written for what is just a series of letters, and gives a real insight into life as a pioneer in the 1860s, with all its highs and lows. You'll laugh at the author's first attempts at baking, and cry with her as she digs dead lambs from a snowdrift. It's a wonderful book and I heartily recommend it.

Lady Barker has a delightful and intelligent way of writing and everyone should read this book. It is like being back in the 1860's with her experiencing early station life in NZ. She has a wonderful sense of humour and it comes through even on the darkest days. She could find a practical solution to any situation. Her way with animals was delightful and her social contact with the outback people beyond measure.

A series of letters home from an obviously well to do lady living in the backblocks of 1860s New Zealand. Her attitude is positive and her accounts, even of the tough times, (and some of them were tougher than a modern immigrant could imagine) are optimistic and character building. A lesson to all prospective immigrants to this land.

A pleasant read for anyone going to New Zealand or interested in New Zealand, although not very insightful about the colonial experience or the economic/political winds blowing at the time. It's worth knowing that the author also lived in Natal and the Caribbean with her colonial-civil servant husband, and wrote 22 books about her experiences.

I was reading this book while traveling in New Zealand. Having seen the areas written about in the modern age made the book more interesting. I don't know where some of the other reviewers found the background information, as it was unclear in the book why the writer was returning to England, and the circumstances surrounding her original relocation. One can no longer complain about a 12 or 24 hour flight!

Well written with many details I've never read before about old New Zealand settlers, I feel like I have had a bit of a delightful education.

Fascinating look at life in NZ.

I read the book because my daughter is getting married in New Zealand and I love history so wanted to research the history of NZ from many perspectives.

Thoroughly enjoyed Station Life in NZ. It was a wonderful history lesson but far more interesting than any history class! It was well written and very readable with a lot of personal insight and love for the land. It provides a fascinating look at the early days of Canterbury (where I grew up).

Even well written letters won't contain the whole story. Still I enjoyed the descriptions of life on a frontier. The storms, the relationships, and the culture left me wanting more; but friends can't share everything in letters. That is part of the time period. Intimate feeling but no "twitter" details. This free book was worth more than I paid for it.

Having just been to New Zealand it is fun to get varying looks at the history. Will never be a best seller, but fun to read after just being there.

Thrilled to find a copy of this book especially as I'll be living just one hill away from Steventon, the station homestead. Book in excellent condition and will be cherished.Lady barker brings the early colonial life in the Canterbury foothills into a vivid reality.