The Passing of the Forest
$61.95
- Hardcover
220 pages
- Release Date
8 October 2026
Summary
Although New Zealand was the last sizeable habitable landmass to be settled by humans … the impact on its native forest has been little short of dramatic.
Cultural and art historian Richard Wolfe profiles the devastation of native forests in a striking visual history through art, from the nineteenth century to today.
The Passing of the Forest explores how large areas of forests were burned by Maori, and then European setters - lured to New Zealand by the prom…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781991353054 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1991353057 |
| Author: | Richard Wolfe |
| Publisher: | Oratia Media |
| Imprint: | Oratia Books |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 220 |
| Release Date: | 8 October 2026 |
| Dimensions: | 210mm x 280mm |
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Critics Review
‘Purists tend to view prehistory New Zealand as one long forest, bristling like two gentleman’s hair brushes laid top to toe. Richard’s exhaustive research points out that the topography of the two islands simply couldn’t permit such a romantic view. Richard lays it all out: from destruction to reforestation. The myths and the truth. And I love that this book is made from mashed-up trees.’
- Dick Frizzell, artist
‘Art historian and accomplished author, Richard Wolfe, brings his knowledge of art and New Zealand history together in a novel way in his latest book. Art, history and science combine in a compelling read.’
- Dr Ewen Cameron
‘The book provides a wide-ranging history of the fate of New Zealand’s forests over the past two hundred years and its depictions by New Zealand artists, but it is also a history of efforts by government agencies and conservation groups to prevent its destruction.’
- John Daly-Peoples, New Zealand Arts Review
Richard Wolfe
Richard Wolfe is a cultural historian and curator who has written or co-authored some 40 books on themes from the moa to New Zealand art, including Footprints on the Land, Hellhole of the Pacific, and New Zealand’s Lost Heritage. He was a display artist at the Auckland and Canterbury museums, and co-curated the first major exhibition of Kiwiana (a term he helped invent). Richard lives with his artist wife Pamela in Auckland.
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