The need for a soundly researched overview of Scottish migration to New Zealand was first recognised at the 2002 conference, ''Celtic Connections - Irish-Scottish Studies Down Under''. A reflection of this is that the book relies solidly on hard data to establish the dimensions of this migration.
Although Scots accounted for up to a quarter of all British migrants to New Zealand up until the late 1920s, they've been the least studied of New Zealand's major ethnic majorities, the authors say.
Two general goals for the book were to significantly increase what we know about the Scots in New Zealand by highlighting misleading past emphases and distortions favoured by postcolonialists, and to place the New Zealand Scottish experience within the context of international research on the post-1800 exodus from Scotland.
Researched and written over seven years, the material for the study came from many individuals and institutions, both from within New Zealand and overseas.
The book dismisses the common stereotype of Scots in New Zealand, particularly the traditional ''Highland'' image; it reveals far more of New Zealand's Scots immigrants were from the Lowlands.
The authors also show while Otago was the major focus of Scottish settlement in New Zealand, a self-reinforcing reputation, Otago's immigrant population became less Scottish in the 1860s-70s.
In addition, the book points out, studies of (Scottish) community life have tended to confine their research to Dunedin and Waipu. However, the authors say Waipu is not typical and a concentration of research in Dunedin contributes little to a deeper understanding of Scottish associational culture and identity.
I found the book interesting from a number of perspectives. While partial to a dram or two of whisky myself, I don't approach the appetite of the Scots in the 19th century. The book says by the 1830s, Scots over the age of 15 put away on average, an estimated pint of whisky a week, in addition to a large quantity of beer, while not forgetting the active ''poteen'' tradition. Migrant Scots too, were enthusiastic about re-creating the distilling tradition in their new home.
The 1868 Distillery Act saw the establishment of two successful distilleries in Dunedin and Auckland. However, these were stillborn (no pun intended), partly because of, the book suggests, pressure from British commercial interests, (now there's a surprise!). By 1881 Dunedin was the brewing capital of New Zealand and producing a quarter of the country's beer from 11 breweries out of the country's 99.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, but I feel the title and the dust jacket don't adequately do justice to the content. A different, more vibrant design and title could have attracted more readers to this fascinating in-depth study and better matched the writing within.
- Ted Fox is a Dunedin online marketing consultant.
