Te Papa Te Taiao Nature Series: Native Plants of Aotearoa
A handy introduction to the unique flora of Aotearoa New Zealand, for the backyard, bach, and backpack.
By Carlos Lehnebach and Heidi Meudt
Publication: October 2022
Extent: 132 pages
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 978-1-99-115093-6
RRP: $27
Buy Native Plants of Aotearoa
Part of the Te Papa Te Taiao Nature Series, this accessible, handsomely illustrated guide to the commonly encountered native plant species of Aotearoa New Zealand has wide appeal.
Native Plants of Aotearoa describes and beautifully illustrates fifty of our most interesting and commonly encountered species. Written by Te Papa botanists, it includes useful descriptions on each species and insights into the museum’s fieldwork and collections. The illustrations are from Te Papa’s collections, based on sketches from fresh plant specimens collected by botanists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander on board HMS Endeavour during the 1786–71 expedition.
Each book in this lightweight, hardback series – designed by award-winning designer Tim Denee – has a crisp look and feel, ideal for pocketing for tramps, or for using at home.
Awards
Tim Denee’s series design was highly commended for the HarperCollins Publishers Award for Best Cover at the PANZ Book Design Awards 2023. The judges’ comments: “This set of book covers for Te Papa have a vintage feel with a contemporary twist. The graphic style works nicely with the size of the book, feeling like a small treasure in the hand. The repeated pattern illustrations and retro colours enable the work of different illustrators to successfully sit alongside each other. The illustrations themselves are beautiful, and perfectly pitched.”
Review highlights
North & South. “Can be prized as much for their appearance as their contents.”
Scoop, reviewed by Howard Davis. “Small, but delightful.”
NZ Booklovers, reviewed by Lyn Potter. “Well worth buying just for the pleasure of looking at these [illustrations]! … written in a very accessible style … perfect to carry with you when you are out and about exploring our natural environment with whanau or friends.”
About the authors
Dr Carlos Lehnebach (Te Papa Curator Botany) studies the diversity, evolution and conservation of New Zealand flowering plants. His main groups of interest are terrestrial and epiphytic orchids, alpine plants, and plants shared with other land masses in the Southern Hemisphere.
Dr Heidi Meudt (Te Papa Curator Botany) is a researcher whose collections-based research focuses on the evolution and classification of native New Zealand flowering plants, especially forget-me-nots. Her research aims to update the taxonomy and conservation status of all native forget-me-nots.
Publication: October 2022
Extent: 132 pages
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 978-1-99-115093-6
RRP: $27
Buy Native Plants of Aotearoa
