Roll Back the Years: Vol 3 : Patiently Piecing Together the History of the central King Country

Author(s): Ron Cooke

Transport | NZ History

A republication of Roll back the years, a magazine that was regularly published between April 1980 and October 1987 The history of Taumarunui and surrounding districts since the arrival of the railway and opening up of the King Country in the early 1900s. Compiled by historian Ron Cooke who developed a most readable style of photos and accompanying short stories when he first published the original magazine series in the 1980s. The original 860 pages are being republished due to continuing demand. There will be a series of six volumes, updated where appropriate and each with an index.


Featuring in this volume are extended pictorial coverages of Manunui, Raurimu and the timber industry that coincided with reunions and jubilees held during 1982 and 1983.

The leading article is seen through the eyes of various New South Wales bank managers who described life in the raw developing towns of Matiere, Ohura and Taumarunui.

The cover features a Tiger Moth being "cranked up" during the early days of topdressing at Te Whakarae along with a spectacular shot of a Wanganui Aero Work Ceres dropping its load of fertiliser at Piriaka.


Product Information

Ron Cooke arrived in Taumarunui as a child in 1946 and has spent most of his life in the district.


After being educated at Taumarunui Primary School and Taumarunui High School, he served an engineering apprenticeship with Wakelin Engineering and after 22 years in the trade became an offset printer, freelance sports photographer, photojournalist and publisher.


His first book was Pinetree Country with Ian Pilkinton in 1973 which was followed by many booklets and magazines until he was involved with two district history books: Kaitieke (with Wilf Couper) and Otunui (for Patricia & Cliff Harris) which he published in 1985.


These were followed by Bush Track to Highway (for Tui Brake in 1986); Waitanguru (for Stan Frederickson in 1987); Ngapuke (1993); When the Bells Toll (for Norma Turner & Bev Muraahi 1994); Servicing Caterpillar (for Ken Anderson 2000); Waimiha (with Audrey Walker 2003), Ongarue (for Lyndsay McMillan & Audrey Walker (2005) and Patients First (2005).

General Fields

  • : 9780958298421
  • : Taumarunui & Districts Historical Society Inc.
  • : Taumarunui & Districts Historical Society Inc.
  • : 0.83
  • : November 2010
  • : 297mm X 210mm
  • : New Zealand
  • : November 2010
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Ron Cooke
  • : Paperback
  • : 993.52
  • : 160
  • : Black and white photographs