Last night the book, Unpacking the Kists: The Scots in New Zealand was launched at the University Book Shop, Dunedin, written by Brad Patterson, Tom Brooking, and Jim McAloon, with Rebecca Lenihan and Tanja Bueltmann. One of the authors, Professor Tom Brooking, is also a member of our Centre. The publication is one of many outputs still emerging from Brad and Tom’s Marsden Grant awarded in 2004.
There was a great turn out for the launch. Distinguished guest included Michael Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning in the Scottish Government; Vicki Treadell, British High Commissioner; and Dave Cull, Dunedin mayor.
The term “unpacking the kists” refers to unpacking the many different items from the large boxes that the Scottish immigrants brought with them to the New World.
Unpacking the Kists is being sold last night under a Otago University Press imprint. It is also published by McGill-Queens University Press in Canada.