The Collector It reminds me that the

It reminds me that the writing process is addictive

A self-taught son of Irish immigrants

at a time when his legacy is being newly appreciated

as well as other stuff you’d rather not know about’ — offer concrete pathways forward’ — Sam Iti Prendergast

‘Fills in this missing piece of New Zealand’s architectural history’ — Kelly Dennett

The Collector It reminds me that theThe vivid biography of a colonial scholar, scientist and gentleman Longlisted for the 2026 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards When Thomas Cheeseman arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand in 1853 at the age of eight, the world outside knew little of this countrys people, plants, animals and environment. Within weeks, he began a lifelong love of collecting and classifying, and by his early twenties he was making waves in colonial scientific circles. Appointed the