The Natural World of New Zealand

* * * *

PC

PolyMedia

$49.95

Review: Peter Eley

New Zealand reference/education programmes are never going to compete with the Encartas or Britannicas, either visually or in sheer volume of information.

But the big titles provide, at best, scant coverage of smaller countries and cultures. Local titles, such as this one by Nelson company PolyMedia, fill in the gaps.

The Natural World of New Zealand is based on Gerard Hutching's book, published by Penguin, and is a well-made, authoritative product studded with 600 colour photos and 75 videos.

It is strong on land-based subjects such as birds and plants but less detailed about the marine environment. For example, snapper and other common fish species are mentioned only in passing.

Required: any Pentium PC.