Peter Janssen knows New Zealand like few others.

He grew up in Huntly and has lived in Southland and Auckland. He has turned his hand to pumping gas, inseminating cows, bus driving, farming, publishing and selling books, leading Auckland’s Gay Tramping Club, swimming with Auckland’s Team Auckland Masters Swimmers and visiting all over New Zealand in his spare time, always with an eye for quirky details and history. He has now thrown his hat in the ring to bring New Zealand a record of its records – 60 Million Gingernuts.

This is a feel good book, which ranges widely from how many biscuits we consume each year to Maori history, geography, sporting records, politics, disasters and entertainment. Our community hero Georgina Beyer merits an entry with a typically factual piece with Peter quickly spelling out the key points in her political career.

This sort of book is published for the gift market. The recipient can spend their birthday being a one-minute expert on all things New Zealand. It’s the sort of thing that can be picked up and dipped into, rather than requiring to be read from page 1 to page 208. It is actually the sort of book Max Cryer would recommend you keep next to the loo roll.

So grab a copy or two and share our history with others while enjoyably learning more yourself.

| Andrew Rumbles
andrew@gayexpress.co.nz
andrewtalksbooks.blogspot.co.nz