Dreamers of the Day - A History of Auckland's Regional Parks
by Graeme Murdoch, Random House, $60
Parks are the lungs of a city - especially the larger ones. New York, London and Paris would be mildly disagreeable places to live were it not for their great parks. Auckland is not
nearly so large, but its parks and open spaces contribute greatly to its appeal. Humans are social creatures, but city dwellers do like access to space and leafy greenery.
This book is about all the parks of the wider Auckland region, not just within the city itself. And there are nearly two dozen of them - from Te Arai in the north to Hunua Ranges in the south. Their establishment, history, preservation and composition are all here. Perhaps the most interesting chapter details the threats to the parks from various political philosophies in the 1982-1992 decade. The Muldoon Government of 1981-1984 was rather hostile to regional government, and the regional authorities feared parks may be sold off.
This is a valuable book, beautifully presented, and with excellent photos.
