Whosoever, in writing a modern history, shall follow truth too near the heels, it may happily strike out his teeth

Quote of the month by Sir Walter Raleigh (English Explorer), from The history of the World (1614).

Focus on History : The Pacific Islands

Books:

A history of the Pacific Islands, by Steven Roger Fischer.
"A History of the Pacific Islands traces the human history of nearly one-third of the globe over a 50,000 year span. This is history on a grand scale, taking the islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia from prehistoric culture to the present day through a skillful interpretation of scholarship in the field. Fischer's familiarity with work in archaeology and anthropology as well as in history enriches the text, making this a book with wide appeal for students and general readers." (Library Catalogue)

Worlds Apart : a history of the Pacific Islands, by I.C. Campbell.

The South Pacific, by Ron Crocombe.

For the kids

Illustrated history of the South Pacific, by Marcia Stenson.

Online articles:

• The Pacific Islands, on Encyclopaedia Britannica
• Pacfic Islanders in New Zealand - Te Ara : the Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Check out the libraries' great online history resources

History Resource Centre: Modern World
Discovering Collection

Found via Essential dates: a timeline of New Zealand History, by A Dench. Random House, Auckland, 2005.

Online magazines

Magazines at the library

Lending history magazines are shelved in the Art, Music & Literature Magazine collection on the first floor of the Central Library, and in the branches on the magazine stands.

New Zealand History Online

Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand - the official encyclopedia of NZ, which when complete will be a comprehensive guide to the country's peoples, natural environment, history, culture, economy, institutions and society.
1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand - the first encyclopedia of New Zealand, published in three thick volumes in 1966. An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand was a critical and publishing success at the time, and has been used as a basic reference work since.
The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War - the fifty volume series is being put online as copyright expires.
Local History of Wellington area: Island Bay, Karori, Khandallah, Miramar & Seatoun, Newtown & Berhampore and Tawa.
NZ Genealogy Sources
New Zealand History Teachers' Association

Wellington's Museums

Wellington's Archives

New Zealand Theses

• Newman, Liberal Policy and the Left Wing, 1908 - 1911 : a study of middle-class radicalism in NZ
• Stenson, The origins of the Government Advances to Settler's Act, 1894
• Clark, The NZ Liberal Party and Government, 1895 - 1906
• Bassett, Sir Harry Atkinson : a political biography, 1872 - 1892
• Shannon, Decline and fall of the Liberal government : a study in an aspect of NZ political development, 1908 - 1914
• Hamar, Sir Robert Stout, 1844 - 1930
• McKimmey, The Temperance Movement in NZ, 1835 - 1894
• Grimshaw, The Women's Suffrage Movement in New Zealand, 1835 - 1894
• Rogers, The Single tax Movement in NZ