Greenstone Trail is now available on Apple Ibooks….and receiving excellent reviews

Kia ora,

The New Zealand historical fiction novel Greenstone Trail by New Zealand author Winston Cowie, in addition to being available as an ebook on Amazon Kindle, is now available on Apple Ibooks. This means that you can download the Ibooks app for free, purchase Greenstone Trail and read it on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad! You can read Greenstone Trail by Winston Cowie any time, anywhere, with your idevice! How awesome is that!

To purchase Greenstone Trail on Amazon Kindle, click here.

To download the ibooks app for free, click here. 

And to purchase Greenstone Trail by Winston Cowie from ibooks, simply type in ‘Greenstone Trail’ and you will be on your way to learning about the fascinating and largely unknown New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s, written in an interesting historical fiction style.

To booklovers in New Zealand, you can purchase one of the few original hard copies of ‘A Flame Flickers in the Darkness,’ from which the ‘Greenstone Trail’ and ‘Flames Flicker’ ebooks are based, via Fishpond by clicking here.  Great for a January and February read under the pohutukawa.

A note, you have to be in New Zealand to order a hard copy.

Recent reviews of Greenstone Trail by Winston Cowie

I am chuffed to have received the following recent reviews from fans, from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Germany, who have read Greenstone Trail.

“Any Kiwis who enjoy Wilbur Smith novels should definitely read the New Zealand historical fiction novels Greenstone Trail and Flames Flicker by Winston Cowie (formerly the epic novel ‘A Flame Flickers in the Darkness’). Not just a good adventure story, it retells a very colourful and difficult period of New Zealand’s history. The struggles faced by both the indigenous Maori and the European settlers are captured in a very balanced way, through warrior Whero and Irish settler Jack, two young men on an inevitable collision course to conflict.”

Matt Smith, Auckland, New Zealand

“History buffs will enjoy the genuinely well researched scenes in which the story plays out, covering the First Taranaki War, the Invasion of the Waikato, events on the Chatham Islands and The Second Taranaki War. Cameo appearances by characters such as Tawhiao (the second Maori king), Gustavus von Tempsky, and Governor Grey give the story a fascinating edge, and bring the struggles, successes, and some critically important moments of New Zealand’s early settler history to life.

Adventurous and romantic types will also get their kicks from the story (for which I shall not give away any more).

Above all, the book will leave you with a great feeling for the times, the mentality and stoic nature of both Maori and early European settlers, and a proudness of New Zealand’s own unique heritage.

If only New Zealand history and literature was this interesting in high school!

I’ve recommended it to many, and after reading it you’ll do the same.”

Murray Whyte, Dusseldorf, Germany

“Winston, I just wanted to write to tell you how much I enjoyed your book “A Flame Flickers in the Darkness,” which is now “Greenstone Trail” and “Flames Flicker”. It’s the first book I remember reading that conjures up such vivid images of what New Zealand must have been like in the early days of settlement. The characters were all real, most likeable, some inspirational. The war scene were brutal, the love scenes raunchy and the action scenes thrilling. Among that the story gave me a whole new perspective on my home province, the mighty Taranaki, which features prominently. It adds a whole new meaning to the many Pa sites we drive by everyday here, not to mention the shadow of the historic site “Marsland Hill” which we are lucky enough to live in. It certainly wasn’t easy to put the book down once I picked it up. I can’t say how much I am looking forward to your next book – I agree you are just like a young Wilbur Smith. Thanks for such a great read.”

Wayne Balsom, Taranaki, New Zealand

“Winston has developed two strong characters in Whero and Jack and weaves a fascinating story around these two in a novel that mixes fiction with historical events during the turmoil of the New Zealand Land Wars / Maori Wars and early settlement of New Zealand. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel particularly the way the historical elements were interwoven through the book (as I had only previously learned about these in rather tedious fashion at school).”

James Miller, Auckland, New Zealand

“I was hooked and unable to put the book down until it was finished. My knowledge of New Zealand history was patchy at best, but this engaging read was a great way to whet the appetite to learn more. The central characters were so well developed, you felt you were there with them as their journey took many twists and turns throughout the book. Taken purely as a novel the book was very well written and easy to follow, however the fact it is a historical novel takes it to a different level; but more importantly for me it has been written by my mate and I am proud to say it was a ‘Great Read’! Here’s to the next piece of literary work from Winnie, I look forward to reading it.”

Tim Stevens, Oxford University Rugby Football Club, United Kingdom

“Not normally an historical novel reader I was totally absorbed in the story from start to finish and soon realised my NZ history was very lacking. But what a wonderful way to learn the some history of our country. I loved the characters and found they really brought the historical facts to life. In fact I still find, now a year later, that parts of the story and the characters pass through my thoughts especially when travelling around different parts of the country.”

Raewyn Buddle, Wellington, New Zealand

More reviews can be viewed at the reviews page. Please feel free to send me your thoughts on my novels, via the ‘Reviews’ page. I would love to hear from you.

Happy holidays.

Ti hei mauri ora,

Winnie

Winston Cowie

New Zealand author et al

Journal of Archaeological Science accepts Midge Bay Shipwreck paper

I am proud to announce that an academic paper I have co-authored has been accepted in the prestigious “Journal of Archaeological Science.” It will be included in Volume 42, February 2014.

The Abstract begins:

“European exploration of New Zealand and the wider South Pacific is traditionally considered to have commenced with the documented voyages of Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in A.D. 1642 and British Captain James Cook in A.D. 1769, with no direct evidence of activity during the intervening years. Here, we report on the discovery of a shipwreck on the west coast of Northland in northern New Zealand that likely occurred during that interval….”

To read the full abstract or purchase the article, please click here to go to the Sciencedirect website.

Mystery at Midge Bay Documentary - Discovering New Zealand's earliest Shipwreck

 Waikaretu Marae, Pouto, support our “Mystery at Midge Bay” documentary.

After a nearly twelve month consultation process, Waikaretu Marae of the Te Uri o Hau hapu, located at spectacular Pouto at the entrance of the Kaipara Harbour, Northland, New Zealand, have sent a letter of support to film makers Winston Cowie and David Sims for their feature documentary entitled:

• “Mystery at Midge Bay – Discovering New Zealand’s earliest shipwreck.”

Mystery at Midge Bay investigates the theory that the Spanish or Portuguese might have been the first Europeans to discover New Zealand, before the Dutchman Abel Tasman in 1642.

Waikaretu Marae, Pouto, write:

“On behalf of the Trustees of Pouto Waikaretu Marae and with having numerous discussions with the whanau of Pouto Waikaretu marae, we the Trustees have unanimously agreed to the viewing for this film to be aired on TV. ”

“To have a letter of support from Waikaretu Marae for this documentary is fantastic and a real indication of the integrity and wairua that David Sims and I have shown throughout the investigation and making of our production.

The korero with Waikaretu in respect of our documentary was a very special cultural experience, one that I will remember for the rest of my days, as will David Sims, and my father Mike who was also present. The marae is a fantastic instititution well run by the Wakaretu Trustees; it is an ahi kaa to be proud of. We felt very welcome there and we are very grateful to Pouto kaumatua, Paki Pomare-Kena, and trustees Tahu Kena and Liza Rimene for taking the time to talk with us,” says Cowie.

Kaumatua Paki Pomare-Kena and Trustee Tahu Kena, Waikaretu Marae, Pouto.

TVNZ are currently assessing whether to acquire the documentary. Cowie comments:

“I think that we have shown in the past week, with the accepting of our academic paper by the Journal of Archaeological Science, and the support of Waikaretu Marae for our documentary, that we have gone through the process scientifically and the right cultural way. I hope TVNZ will agree and will share this important story, which changes our discovery paradigm, with the rest of New Zealand.”

Dubai 7s

A massive well done to the Abu Dhabi Harlequins ‘1’ side, for placing Runner Up in the Cup of recent Dubai 7s, and also the Abu Dhabi Harlequins ‘A’ side who made the Cup semi-final. It was an absolute pleasure to co-manage the Harlequins ‘A’ team with Irish hard man Phil Brady and see a bunch of gents play out of their skin, exceeding everyones expectations. Well done to team captains and club legends Ed Lewsey, Tom Calnan and Patrick Hegarty for playing superb rugby and setting such a good example.

Abu Dhabi Harlequins 'A.' Dubai 7s. 2013

Greenstone Trail by Winston Cowie

Looking for a holiday read? The New Zealand historical fiction novel Greenstone Trail by New Zealand Author Winston Cowie, is available on Amazon Kindle. You can read Greenstone Trail by Winston Cowie any time, anywhere. How awesome is that!

To purchase Greenstone Trail on Amazon Kindle, click here.

To booklovers in New Zealand, you can also purchase one of the few original hard copies of ‘A Flame Flickers in the Darkness,’ from which the ‘Greenstone Trail’ and ‘Flames Flicker’ ebooks are based, via Fishpond by clicking here. Great for a Christmas read under the pohutukawa.

Enjoy Christmas and the holiday.

Ti hei mauri ora,

Winnie

Winston Cowie

Release of Greenstone Trail by Winston Cowie and revamped website!

Greenstone Trail by Winston Cowie

An exciting day. The release of the New Zealand historical fiction novel Greenstone Trail by New Zealand author Winston Cowie, as an ebook. Check out the cover!

You have spoken and I have listened. You all really enjoyed reading New Zealand author Winston Cowie’s New Zealand Land Wars historical fiction novel ‘A Flame Flickers in the Darkness,’ some even saying that it does for New Zealand historical fiction what Wilbur Smith does for Africa.

I feel privileged and inspired to receive such kind words from people whom I have never met. You also said that because the novel is of such epic proportions and covers such a significant number of events and characters, that it would work better as two separate books.

And so I have split ‘A Flame Flickers in the Darkness’ in half into two separate books: ‘Greenstone Trail’ and ‘Flames Flicker.’

Both are set during the New Zealand Land Wars (also known as the New Zealand Wars and Maori Wars), which took place between 1860 and 1868, when the indigenous New Zealand Maori and colonising British were fighting what was the war for New Zealand.

Greenstone Trail, which spans events in Fiordland, the South Seas, Auckland, and the First Taranaki War, has been released as an ebook this year (2013). You can purchase your ebook copy on Amazon Kindle, by clicking here. Within the month it will also be available on Apple Ibooks so you can download it onto your ipad!

Flames Flicker, which spans the Invasion of Waikato, the Chatham Islands, East Cape, mystical Ureweras, and Second Taranaki War, will be released as an ebook in 2014.

Only 500 copies of the original epic story, A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, were ever printed. For New Zealanders, there still might be some hard copies available online at Fishpond,or Whitcoulls. For international sales, please Contact Me direct. Grab one of the originals today; you might get lucky.

And hard copies of Greenstone Trail and Flames Flicker may be available in due course! The market must demand these hard copies first! That’s you. Please, send me a comment via the Contact page, or a Facebook ‘like,’ on the Reviews page, if you feel inspired to. If we can come up with enough, we might just be able to get hard copies of this epic New Zealand historical fiction series made. 

Finally, thank you for your comments; they have inspired me to take this next step with my New Zealand historical fiction novel, now novels! And please, for those that haven’t, read about the New Zealand Land Wars, written in an interesting historical fiction format. They are such a fascinating part of New Zealand history yet they are not well known about because they are not comprehensively taught about  in New Zealand schools, despite being an important part of our heritage. Be informed and learn about New Zealand’s past.  Interesting events; fascinating people; our ancestors and whakapapa.

Revamped website

To mark the launch of Greenstone Trail by Winston Cowie, and to more accurately reflect my creative works, I have revamped my website.

It is the home of all things relevant to my work as a New Zealand author and (now) documentary producer. Its purpose is to be a place where you can learn more about these creative works.

My website also includes a blog updating you on things I am interested in, a diverse mix:

Adventure; Anthropology; Camping; Environmental Policy; Family; Friends; Hiking; History; Human Rights; Inspiring people to chase their dreams; Law; Marine Science; Natural History; Ocean; Outdoors; Rugby; Sailing; Scuba-diving; Spearfishing; Surfing; Travel; Underwater Heritage; and Wildlife Conservation. 

Across my professions, interests, and countries travelled, the image which best represents what I am about, that of the juvenile Golden Trevally within a person’s hand, summarises my view on life and our world. It’s in our hands.

I have also created a background collage to give you a taste of what I am about:.

Winston Cowie - New Zealand Author

Www.winstoncowie.com  is also interactive and contains a ‘Reviews‘ page where you can leave a comment on my historical fiction or documentary work. Please do! Alternatively, please Contact Me. 

Enjoy sharing in my passions and please contact me for writing or documentary queries.

Ti hei mauri ora,

Winnie

Winston Cowie

New Zealand author et al

And patrons sought to fund a comprehensive dating of the La Coruna pohutukawa….

La Coruna Pohutukawa dating team 2013

Winton Cowie gifting greenstone to the La Coruna pohutukawa tree

In the beautiful coastal city of La Coruna in Galicia, northern Spain, a large specimen of the New Zealand pohutukawa tree is located. Native to New Zealand, the existence of the tree is an enigma and as part of his research into potential early spanish and portuguese voyages to New Zealand, New Zealander Winston Cowie visited the tree over the weekend, in an attempt to date its age.

In doing so, he gifted the tree and people of La Coruna a magnificent greenstone pendant which is now worn by the tree, generously donated and carved by internationally reknowned and Te Hana based New Zealand master artist and carver, Kerry Strongman.

Cowie has been working with film director David Sims and last year premiered their feature documentary entitled Mystery at Midge Bay – Discovering New Zealand’s oldest shipwreck.

The documentary delves into potential portuguese and spanish discoveries of New Zealand and with one of the shipwrecks of the Pouto Peninsula that they had dated through working with New Zealand dendrochronologist Dr Jonathan Palmer, tentatively concluded that it was of Dutch origin, given the date of the wreck, 1705, and the origin of the wood, South East Asia, where the Dutch were dominant from the 1650s. Cowie and Sims are currently undergoing a consultative process with Te Uri o Hau iwi in respect of the documentary, as the possible Dutch shipwreck is within their rohe, and in time, are looking at negotiating with TVNZ Heartland and Maori television to have the documentary shown on New Zealand television.

The La Coruna pohutukawa has been an enigma since first being “discovered” by New Zealander Warwick Harris and La Coruna resident Juan Pineiro in 2001.The tree has not been dated although there is conjecture about its age. Some say that the tree is 400-500 years old, others say that the tree is 200 years old, brought back by an English sailor returning from the antipodes in the late eighteenth century.

“I call my research into potential spanish and portuguese discoveries of New Zealand the “Conquistador Puzzle,” says Cowie, a New Zealand lawyer, marine scientist, author and former Oxford University graduate and Rugby Union Blue. “Some pieces of the puzzle fit, others don’t, but in my view, there is enough of the puzzle to say that New Zealand may have been discovered by the Portuguese or Spanish, and over 100 years prior to Abel Tasman. There is not quite enough evidence to say that this definitely happened, yet, but by following up each of the puzzle pieces, in time we will be able to present a theory based on all of the pieces of the puzzle.”

“Where the La Coruna pohutukawa fits in the puzzle, I honestly don’t know, it is a mystery that has been sitting there, waiting to be solved. Our research and film making involves assessing each of the Conquistador Puzzle pieces, one by one, to see if they are relevant.”

It is the second time Cowie has attempted to date the pohutukawa. In 2009, with New Zealand’s top dendrochronologist, Christchurch based Dr Jonathan Palmer, they were due to core the tree and date it, when the Christchurch earthquake struck, affecting Dr Palmer. The trip was cancelled.

Cowie and Sims, both members of the New Zealand Underwater Heritage Group, have been supported in their research by the Spanish Embassy to New Zealand, and were granted permission over the weekend by the Mayor of La Coruna, Alcalde Negreira Souto, to take one small preliminary sample from the tree. Galician dendrochronologist Dr Ignacio Garcia Gonzalez took the sample from a healthy small branch of the tree to provide some insight into the tree’s growth cycle. A sample large enough to definitively date the tree was not permitted although the La Coruna Council was happy for a preliminary sample to be taken to raise awareness of the research and give an indication on growth rates. It is hoped in time that Cowie and Sims will return to La Coruna with the world’s leading dendrochronologist on pohutukawa trees, New Zealander Dr Jonathan Palmer, to work with Dr Garcia Gonzalez and date the tree properly, to definitively decipher its age.

Whether comprehensive coring occurs depends on obtaining the permission of a number of Spanish authorities, as the tree is protected, and also on obtaining funding for Cowie, Sims and Palmer to travel to La Coruna to do the work. “As I found over the weekend, Spanish politics and bureaucracy is something to behold. The good thing is that now I have met the key officials and through the embassy here in New Zealand, they are aware of our research. I am hopeful that in time we will be granted all relevant permissions, attract funding, and are able to see where the pohutukawa fits within the Conquistador puzzle.”

In recognition of the mana of the pohutukawa tree, Cowie, as a representative of the New Zealand Underwater Heritage Group, gifted the tree and the people of La Coruna, a New Zealand treasure, a greenstone pendant. Carved by internationally reknowned Master artist and carver, Kerry Strongman, the magnificent greenstone is reflective of the link, both physical and through spirit, of the tree to New Zealand. “When I heard that Winston was travelling to Spain to date the pohutukawa, I especially carved a very special piece of greenstone for a very special tree,” says Strongman. “It is a koro, a bird, a hook of abundance, and it holds secrets, like the tree. Now the La Coruna pohutukawa is very very special because it is the only tree in the world that is wearing a greenstone pendant. It will protect the tree and be symbolic of where it has come from.”

La Coruna pohutukawa greenstone gifted by Winston Cowie and team. Carved by reknowned New Zealand Master Carver Kerry Strongman.

La Coruna pohutukawa greenstone gifted by Winston Cowie and team. Carved by reknowned New Zealand master carver Kerry Strongman.

“The piece Kerry carved is magnificent,” says Cowie. “Kerry and his work are New Zealand treasures. I couldn’t encourage people more, to visit his studio at The Arts Factory in Te Hana, just north of Wellsford. The Kauri carvings he produces are phenonmenol, and he is so generous to the community. To be donated such a magnificent taonga to put on the tree was very special and humbling and I am really grateful to Kerry for his generosity.”

Please check out Master artist and carver Kerry Strongman’s website by clicking here.

Cowie is now seeking support, from New Zealand and Spanish patrons, to financially support himself, Sims and Dr Palmer flying to La Coruna, to date the tree, providing all of the permissions are obtained from relevant Spanish authorities.

To date, Cowie and Sims have produced Mystery at Midge Bay from their own resources and they say that forking out further funds now would be “over and above the call of duty.” They will be holding two showings of “Mystery” at The Kumara Box in Dargaville in a fortnight’s time. Dates will be released next week. If interested in attending, please contact Warren Suckling at The Kumara Box.

 “Regardless of what the age of the tree comes back as, if we are allowed to date it, it is still a very honourable tree, hence the gift of greenstone” says Cowie, “and by dating it, at least then we will know for sure if the tree forms part of the Conquistador Puzzle or not. The tree is already special. It could be very very special, like the Tower of Hercules, a Roman lighthouse and UNESCO world heritage site in La Coruna. This is up to the people of La Coruna, and hopefully through donated airfares from New Zealand and Spanish patrons, we can solve this part of the puzzle.”

Cowie, author of a New Zealand epic historical novel, A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, will be re-releasing that book into two separate books later this year. The first, called “Greenstone Trail,” spans Fiordland, Auckland, whaling expeditions in the South Seas and the key events of the First Taranaki War of the 1860s. “Keep an eye out for it in bookshops, for a Christmas release,” says Cowie. “It’s looking really good.”

And there are only circa 40 out of 500 copies left of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, New Zealand author Winston Cowie’s New Zealand historical fiction novel or book set during the New Zealand Wars or Maori Wars or New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s. You can grab a copy from Whitcoulls, independent bookstores and online on PublishMe and Fishpond. Grab one of the last ever copies of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, today!

Cheers

Winnie

(Winston Cowie)

The second season of the New Zealand based Moana Nui Fishing Club has recently been completed.

And those Kiwi blokes out there currently travelling the world will know what I mean when I mention a good Kiwi fishing day. The sun is shining, the weather is clear, the fish are biting, you catch a few Snapper, if you’re lucky a Kingfish; somebody has been for a dive and gathered a few scallops and hunted out a few crays. It makes for a great day and the afternoon of filleting while having a few beers and then the feast that follows is second to none. The kids take it all in and want to get involved. A good cycle.

Enter the genesis of the Moana Nui Fishing Club. Last year, a couple of really keen fishos who have recently returned to New Zealand  from overseas got together and worked out some loose rules around a fishing club. 

They were pretty simple – it involved mates going fishing together over summer (families in tow), with a prize going to the person at the end of the Summer who was judged to have caught the biggest Snapper and Kingfish.

Results for the season were:

Winner: Winston Cowie (22lb Snapper and 50lb Kingfish)

Runner Up: Tim Scott (15.6lb Snapper and 32lb Kingfish)

Third Place: David Brodie (15.6lb Snapper and 28lb Kingfish)

A big highlight of this season was six Snapper being caught over 15lb, all of which were released. Other notable fish were two giant Crayfish gathered by James Marshall, a large Porae caught by Darren Poole, a 32lb Wellington Kingfish caught by Dion Ahern and a 20lb Snapper caught by George Gordon, judged ineligible on a technicality.

A lot of fun was had with some great days out on the water. Tena Koe he Taonga o Tangaroa.

Winston Cowie 22lb Snapper - Moana Nui Fishing Club Winner (2012-2013)

Winston Cowie 50lb Kingfish - Moana Nui Fishing Club Winner (2012-2013)

Tim Scott - Moana Nui Fishing Club Runner Up (2012-2013) 15lb 6 Snapper

Tim Scott - Moana Nui Fishing Club Runner Up (2012-2013) 32 lb Kingfish

David Brodie - Moana Nui Fishing Club Third Place (2012-2013) 15lb 6 Snapper

David Brodie - Moana Nui Fishing Club Third Place (2012-2013) 28lb Kingfish

James Marshall - Best Crayfish!

Nick Maister and Jonathan Dow - Crayfish!

Dion Ahern 32lb Wellington Kingfish!

Darren Poole - Big Porae!

George Gordon 20 lb Snapper!

Hamish Dobbie 11lb Snapper!

Heath Worsfold 11lb Snapper!

Brendon Poole 15lb Snapper!

John Dory!

Richard Cowie Good Kingfish!

A Flame Flickers in the Darkness and……..the upcoming release of Greenstone Trail by Winston Cowie

And there are only circa 40 out of 500 copies left of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, New Zealand author Winston Cowie’s New Zealand historical fiction novel or book set during the New Zealand Wars or Maori Wars or New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s. You can grab a copy from Whitcoulls, independent bookstores and online on PublishMe and Fishpond. Get one today as no more copies of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness will be printed. It will be re-released later this year as two different books, the first of which will be called Greenstone Trail….. Watch this space……

Grab one of the last ever copies of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, today!

Cheers

Winnie

(Winston Cowie)

Kerry Gallagher of the Rodney Times reports:

Diver finds sea taonga

An unexpected historical find has highlighted the efforts of a documentary-making dive team.

Manly’s Winston Cowie has discovered a yet- to- be determined Maori tool at Tawharanui while helping to make a documentary series.

Mr Cowie was diving as part of a team filming the Natural History New Zealand and TVNZ series Our Big Blue Backyard, which will show on TV1 next year.

Three of the four person North Island team are from Rodney: Brady Doak ( cameraman and marine operations at the University of Auckland Goat Island facility), Steve Hathaway (videographer and Snells Beach local) and Mr Cowie – a marine scientist, independent film maker, author, lawyer and dive supervisor.

Whangarei-based cameraman, independent film-maker and marine scientist Dave Abbott completes the team.

Mr Cowie was looking for a crayfish nest in 4m of water when he saw what looked to be ‘‘ a funny looking mussel’’ lodged between two rocks. He pulled it clear and was surprised to find a curved stone Maori tool and had a lot of marine growth on it. It had obviously been there ‘‘ for some time’’.

Winston Cowie & the Maori artefact - a fishing tool?

Maori artefact discovered at Tawharanui - a fishing tool?

‘‘ My initial thought was that this was some sort of finely shaped multi- purpose fishing tool – the three notches on it used to tie the flax line, with the hole at the other end used to tie the line to the handline,’’ Mr Cowie says.

‘‘It is also sharp and would be good for scaling fish. Another idea was that it was part of a fish/ crayfish trap located on the bottom.

‘‘I say this because it was really well lodged between two large rocks and I had to really pull to remove it. I am not sure how it would have got so well lodged if it had, say, fallen from a waka. I also can’t find anything like it online.’’

Mr Cowie met Ngati Manuhiri kaumatua Mook Hohneck who said a karakia and blessed the taonga.

Winston Cowie & Mook Hohneck, Ngati Manuhiri Kaumatua

Ngati Manuhiri Settlement Trust chief executive officer Mr Hohneck confirmed the artefact belonged to Ngati Manuhuri and was grateful to Mr Cowie for returning it. It would not have been a weapon, such as a mere, he said, but could have been used for fishing or collecting shellfish off rocks.

Kaumatua and other experts will examine it to try to determine its age, and exactly what it is.”

By Kerry Gallagher, Rodney Times, 25 April 2013.

For the online version, please click here

And there are only circa 50 out of 500 copies left of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, New Zealand author Winston Cowie’s New Zealand historical fiction novel or book set during the New Zealand Wars or Maori Wars or New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s. You can grab a copy from Whitcoulls, independent bookstores and online on PublishMe and Fishpond. Get one today as no more copies of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness will be printed this year (2013)……it may come back to you in a very different format. Watch this space……

First Editions, however, become collectors items. Grab one today!

Cheers

Winnie

(Winston Cowie)

28 April 2013

“New series explores NZ’s seas”

“The secrets of New Zealand’s deeps are to be revealed in a new television series by Dunedin production company NHNZ.

The six-part series on New Zealand’s ocean environment and sea creatures, Our Big Blue Backyard, has been described as being ”almost like Coronation St under the sea”.

”Our Big Blue Backyard will reveal the stories of numerous creatures lurking beneath the surface in locations ranging from New Zealand orcas’ home ranges in Northland Harbour down to the white shark feeding grounds surrounding Stewart Island,” executive producer Judith Curran said yesterday.

The one-hour programmes explore six marine locations around the New Zealand coastline and the creatures which call them home.

”Each location will be explored from the perspective of a neighbourhood narrative; from the tiniest barnacles and sea anemones to iconic whales, revealing the daily dramas, challenges and triumphs of those who live in these watery neighbourhoods – almost like Coronation St of under the sea,” Ms Curran said.

For the full article written by Nigel Benson of the Otago Daily Times, please click here.

Mazurka vessel – Poor Knights

Dave Abbott Filming at Poor Knights

Ricorico Cave Poor Knights

Snapper and Kingfish crusing under the vessel, Mazurka, Poor Knights

Blue Maomao and Trevally Boil Up, Poor Knights

Dave Abbott and Mado, Poor Knights

Oceandiversity Sea Adventures Charters, Whangarei – SCUBA, Snorkel and Spearfishing. Skipper Blair Jones

Octopus, Northland Harbours

Filming Stingrays, Northland Harbours

And there are only circa 65 out of 500 copies left of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, New Zealand author Winston Cowie’s New Zealand historical fiction novel or book set during the New Zealand Wars or Maori Wars or New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s. You can grab a copy from Whitcoulls, independent bookstores and online on PublishMe and Fishpond. Get one today as no more copies of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness will be printed this year (2013)……it may come back to you in a very different format.

First Editions, however, become collectors items. Grab one today!

Cheers

Winnie

(Winston Cowie)

New Zealand Author; ‘A Flame Flickers in the Darkness’

6 March 2013

Check out the latest edition (February / March 2013) of Dive NZ magazine for a great article on spearfishing in Qatar. Featuring Winston Cowie, Trent Webb, Hamish Dobbie and Wade Quinn.

You can check out the article here.

About Dive NZ magazine:

“We are the Pacific’s most informative dive magazine and  Dive New Zealand is the only dive magazine in New Zealand. Dive Pacific is the international version of Dive New Zealand and is distributed in over 10 country’s with a global readership 70,000 – 100,000. Dive New Zealand – On Sale at over 630 retail outlets nationwide. Available at dive stores and petrol stations nationwide. Dive Pacific – On Sale at over 320 retail outlets in Australia, free on 5 airlines (as inflight magazines and lounges).”

And there are only circa 70 out of 500 copies left of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, New Zealand author Winston Cowie’s New Zealand historical fiction novel or book set during the New Zealand Wars or Maori Wars or New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s. You can grab a copy from Whitcoulls, independent bookstores and online on PublishMe and Fishpond. Get one today as no more copies of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness will be printed this year (2013)……it may come back to you in a very different format.

First Editions, however, become collectors items. Grab one today!

Cheers

Winnie

(Winston Cowie)

13 February 2013

Happy New Year to you all. I hope you had a great break and are raring to go in 2013.                                                                                                                                                   One of my all time favourite quotes that I will use as a source of inspiration this year is:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Theodore Roosevelt (1910)

In summary, Get out there and have a crack at chasing down your dreams. How can you look at your sons and daughters in the eye and tell them to chase down their dreams, if you haven’t dared to chase you own?

The holiday was spent with family around the magic beaches of Coromandel Peninsula and Northland. I then volunteered for a week with the Department of Conservation and Environment Southland in Breaksea Sound, Fiordland. They are completing an eradication of the invasive marine pest, Japanese Seaweed (or Undaria pinnatifida), which was likely brought to Fiordland on the dirty hull of a ship. Details below.

According to the Ministry of Primary Industries:

“The kelp Undaria pinnatifida (Undaria) is native to Japan where it is cultivated for human consumption. It is a highly invasive opportunistic seaweed which spreads mainly by fouling on boat hulls. It can form dense stands underwater, potentially resulting in competition for light and space which may lead to the exclusion or displacement of native plant and animal species.

Undaria is present in almost all of New Zealand’s international ports and harbours ranging from Auckland down to Bluff including Stewart Island and, recently, the Snares, Fiordland and Chatham Islands. It is also found along the top of the South Island. With the exception of a recent small find in Fiordland (April 2010), it is currently not known to have established on the West Coast of the South Island, or large areas of the North Island’s West Coast.

In April 2010 a single mature undaria plant was found on a line mooring a barge to the shoreline in the remote Sunday Cove in Breaksea Sound. Subsequent investigation found moderately low numbers of plants on the mooring line and the seafloor in the area. It is thought, however, that undaria is not well established in the area.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, Environment Southland (Southland Regional Council), and the Department of Conservation have joined forces to try and eliminate undaria from Sunday Cove.

As no further mature plants have been discovered since the original find, regular diving inspections are being carried out so that any new plants found can be removed before they have a chance to reproduce.

Further work is also being done to educate boat owners about good maintenance and hull cleaning to prevent further marine pests reaching Fiordland.”

The good news is we didn’t find any on our expedition despite intensive searching. Monitoring needs to continue, however, in case a juvenile plant was missed.

AND WHAT A MAGNIFICENT PLACE AND MARINE ENVIRONMENT FIORDLAND IS – DEFINITELY WORTH PROTECTING!

“Towering bluffs and escapments hugged tightly by forest all the way to the waters edge. Underwater the steepness continues, blue, clear water disappearing into mysterious 300 metre depths…It is an underwater wonder of New Zealand and the world – Kelp and Black corals hug the rock face, Ginormous Crayfish strut their stuff on the open faces, Blue Cod and Tarakihi curiously swim towards you and 7 Gill Sharks, ever inquisitive, eye you up…”

Or, in the eyes of Whero, one of the protagonists in “A Flame Flickers in the Darkness:”

“Before him, the snow laden peaks of a great mountain range rose high and majestic above, as far as he could see in both directions. Where the snowline finished a forest waited, dark and dense, clothing the land all the way down to a roughly hewn coastline. The sky glowed beyond in that vanilla hue that is evident only at dusk, a scene reflected perfectly in the water before him, interrupted intermittently by jumping fish.”

A few photos below. Fiordland is a must see!

Fiordland Sunset

Sunday Cove, Fiordland, New Zealand

Resolution island, Fiordland, New Zealand

Winston Cowie Fiordland Crayfish!

And below are the links to the videos of the 7 Gill Sharks that were a regular on most dives. Click 7 Gill Shark Fiordland Part 1 and Part 2.

7 Gill Shark Fiordland, New Zealand

They behaved well most of the time – a couple of hits on the snouts set the boundary, and then we were away – I’m filming the first, and in set in the second video.

And there are only circa 70 out of 500 copies left of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, Winston Cowie’s New Zealand historical fiction novel or book based on the New Zealand Wars or Maori Wars or New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s. You can grab a copy from Whitcoulls, independent bookstores and online on PublishMe and Fishpond. Get one today as no more copies of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness will be printed this year……it may come back to you in a very different format.

First Editions, however, become collectors items. Grab one today!

Cheers

Winnie

(Winston Cowie)

23 January 2013

Blog topics: Solaris Films, New Zealand Wars, New Zealand History, New Zealand Land Wars, Maori Wars,  Marine Science and Policy, Fishing (rod and spear), Surfing, Maori Wars, Diving, Rugby, Underwater Heritage, Tramping, Winston Cowie, Tuatara, Oxford University Rugby Football Club.

A documentary which could rewrite New Zealand’s early history screens at the Kumara Box on Pouto Rd, near Dargaville, early next month.

Mystery at Midge Bay – The Discovery of New Zealand’s Earliest Shipwreck investigates the theory that the Spanish or Portuguese might have been the first Europeans to discover New Zealand, before the Dutchman Abel Tasman in 1642.

The 50-minute documentary, co-produced by David Sims and Winston Cowie and directed by Sims, premiered at the same venue a few weeks ago but, since tickets sold out well before the one-off screening, a re-showing has been arranged.

Mystery ay Midge Bay. Solaris Films New Zealand Ltd.

Sims and Cowie, who was born in Dargaville, investigated three shipwrecks which local folklore says are linked to early Iberian voyages.

The documentary focuses on one in particular, at Midge Bay near the mouth of the Kaipara Harbour. They say they have obtained previously missing scientific evidence regarding this shipwreck.

The Kaipara bar and harbour have a notorious reputation and their depths hold many ships’ graveyard secrets.

For the full story, written by Annette Lambly of the Northern Advocate, click here.

Mystery at Midge Bay will screen for one night only at Matakana Cinemas on  Thursday 6 December, at 6:30pm, and The Kumara Box, Dargaville, on Friday December 7 at 6:30pm. Limited seats are available. Please contact the venues for bookings.

A Flame Flickers in the Darkness                                                                                    And there are only circa 75 out of 500 copies left of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, Winston Cowie’s New Zealand historical fiction novel or book based on the New Zealand Wars or Maori Wars or New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s. You can grab a copy from Whitcoulls, independent bookstores and online on PublishMe and Fishpond.

Cheers

Winnie

(Winston Cowie)

4 December 2012