POKAREKARE ANA
New Zealand’s unofficial national anthem. Koti sings this to Kate in the car in “Just Good Friends.” Sung here by Kiri Te Kanawa plus chorus, with gorgeous New Zealand images. Click the “Interactive Transcript” button below the screen for lyrics and/or translation.
Hi there. I am a Kiwi from Auckland and have just stumbled on your books on my Kindle. So far I have read two of them and am loving them. I thought I would have a look at your website to find out a bit about you, because although you have done pretty well with the “kiwi speak” I could tell you weren’t from here. I love your website. Watching the haka even gave me goose bumps and I have been watching Rugby all of my life and though myself immune to it by now. Also hearing Dame Kiri sing… Read more »
Thank you so much for telling me. I knew I wouldn’t get everything right, but I hoped that my genuine love for the country would come through and maybe mitigate any offense that caused. And so far, almost everybody has been as gracious as you, thank goodness. I was pretty nervous about it. I just had a hunch, though, that other Americans might enjoy escaping to New Zealand as much as I did. It is such a wonderful country. You’ll just have to excuse my stealing away so many All Blacks for American women :).
I’ve never done this before, but as an avid reader (really…3 or 4 books each week!) I have to tell you how much I have enjoyed each of the New Zealand series books…I just finished the most recent, JUST MY LUCK. I loved each one of them, each more than the last. You and your vision of New Zealand have made a lasting impression on me and given me the dream of seeing it for myself someday. Your characters make me want them as friends (and lovers!!) and I have been sorry to see each book come to it’s conclusion…I… Read more »
I’m really flattered that you wrote to me. And so glad you felt that the books got better as I went. I’m always trying to improve. NZ is a wonderful place–I hope you do get a chance to visit someday!
Hi, I just read all 5 NZ books during my vacation (of 6 days, go figure) and wanted to check out your site as soon as I was back. Thank you for the good reads, I really enjoyed them (obviously). I’ve been to NZ last year for 9 days and went with a camper from Christchurch to Auckland. I would love to stay and play in NZ but I live in Austria… With your novels I can dream at least. So thank you, and I will make sure to check the site out and also the Paradise series, as your… Read more »
Wow! Five books in six days–I’m impressed! I hope you still got enough vacation in there. :) Thanks for the comments! I’m glad the books brought back some of those good memories from your trip.
Well, this was a vacation for reading and relaxing anyway, so your books were perfect. I wouldn’t have had the time to do this while in NZ, there I just crammed in as much scenery and experiences as possible, nine days is just so d… short. :-)
Btw, I think it’s awesome that you respond to all the comments! Thumbs up for this too!
That’s because it’s the very biggest thrill, to hear from people who like the books. I still remember the first time somebody wrote me. My poor husband. I just about screamed!
hi Rosalind–I have read the whole series of the New Zealand books, including the newest one in Brenda Novack’s Diabetes charity boxed set, which was excellent, as usual. Please tell me that you will be continuing this series, PLEASE! You are an unbelievable author.
Rosalind, I have read all of your NZ books. I have gone on YouTube to hear all the songs you mentioned in the books. It’s true, the Maori voices are incredible and their faces when they sing are so angelic. I have also developed an obsession for rugby and the All Blacks. Thank you for making New Zealand a place I would like to visit. I cannot wait for the next book.
Thank you! I’m so glad that I’ve been able to share my love for New Zealand and rugby with readers.
This is a reply to Bernice below–Thanks so much for telling me you’re enjoying JUST IN TIME! I’m probably going to write at least one more book in the series, in between the Paradise, Idaho series and a brand-new series I’ve just started (more about that later). I appreciate the kind words so much!