New Zealand and the French

"How did the early explorers react to their first encounters with the Maori? What attracted Jules Verne to New Zealand as an exotic setting for his writings? Why did Akaroa enjoy such advanced social services and a booming economy and then fade into obscurity? These and many more recent questions are addressed in this fascinating study of France's impact on New Zealand, from the earliest sightings of a new and unknown land to the political and economic issues that have shaped relation between the two countries in the twentieth century." -- Back cover.