Sports History

Looking for books for sports loving young people, or even for yourself?
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Black Magic
Price range: $9.95 through $24.95 + GST
Aotearoa New Zealand’s national flag is blue, red and white … but our national colour is black with a silver fern.

How did this iconic look begin?

Discover the courageous and inspirational story behind our beloved national colours and sporting traditions in this action-packed adventure. Get ready to be captivated by the wonders of Black Magic!

Black Magic was shortlisted in the 2025 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young People.

“David Riley is a great storyteller and, in Black Magic, he tells a great story.” Trevor Agnew QSM

“David Riley’s Black Magic is a masterpiece of storytelling, weaving together ancient Polynesian voyages and the birth of New Zealand’s iconic sports uniform into a captivating narrative that will make every Kiwi’s heart swell with pride.” Selina Tusitala Marsh ONZM FRSNZ

Hear an interview about the book here:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018993204/david-riley-the-reading-warrior

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Strike Hard – The Michaela Blyde Story
Price range: $9.95 through $24.95 + GST
It’s Saturday 31 July 2021, and Michaela Blyde is in Tokyo Stadium with her Black Ferns Sevens teammates. They’re playing against France for the Olympic gold medal!
“Remember, it’s just a game of rugby,” Michaela reminds herself. “All I have to do is work hard, tackle hard, strike hard!”

Will Michaela and the Black Ferns win gold for New Zealand? Twenty minutes from now, we’ll know …

Strike Hard is the inspiring story of the Black Ferns Sevens’ speedster and try-scoring machine, Michaela Blyde. Learn how Michaela grew up to become one of the best women’s rugby players in the world … and how hard work and determination can help you achieve greatness too!

“The light just shimmers off these pages. I loved this great book, depicting one of our most recent female athletes.”
Mary Tulaga-Teleia. Magpies. September 2024.

Click to view a sample of this book:

Strike Hard
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Yvette Williams – Leaping into History
Price range: $9.95 through $24.95 + GST
Yvette Williams represented New Zealand in the discus, hurdles, javelin, shot put and basketball. Some people think she’s the best Kiwi athlete ever. But Yvette is most famous for a 6.24 meter long jump she made in 1952. That’s when she became the first Kiwi woman to win an Olympic gold medal. How did she do it? By aiming high and working hard that’s how. Come on, let’s find out more about Yvette Williams’ leap into history!

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Standing In My Own Shoes
Price range: $9.95 through $24.95 + GST
What is ‘success’?

Some say that wealth, popularity and fame equal success. Others say the unconditional love of family and friends is the only kind of success they need.

In Standing In My Own Shoes, 21 Kiwi Olympians and Paralympians have written letters to young people, sharing what they learned about ‘success’ from their experiences in Tokyo. Some of the athletes have recorded themselves speaking the letters too.

There are letters from athletes like Lisa Carrington, Hamish Bond and Lydia Ko.

Each letter has been illustrated by a well-known Kiwi illustrator. Some of the artists involved are Gavin Bishop, Ruth Paul and Ant Sang.

Look inside the book by clicking here:

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Rise of the To’a
Price range: $9.95 through $24.95 + GST
Rise of the To’a! is a book about the most successful Tongan sports team in history – the national rugby league team. Kau To’a. Mate Ma’a Tonga. MMT. It’s about how they beat New Zealand, Great Britain and Australia in a three year period of awesomeness! How the players overcame personal challenges in their lives to achieve things others thought impossible. How they united the worldwide kingdom of Tonga. And how they inspired people of all ages to dream big.

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Kiwi Number 1
Price range: $9.95 through $24.95 + GST
The Kiwis. The Kiwi Ferns. The Warriors. The NRLW.

All of these are household names today … thanks to a young post office worker who had a crazy dream.

Find out how it happened in Kiwi Number 1: How rugby league came to New Zealand.

Look inside the book by clicking here:

Kiwi Number 1
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Rugby League World
Price range: $9.95 through $24.95 + GST
Rugby League World tells you all you need to know about the world’s greatest game!

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Our Normal
Price range: $9.95 through $24.95 + GST
‘Disabilities are cool. They add to our story and make us unique.’ (Anna Grimaldi – Paralympic gold medallist). Our Normal is a series of intimate and honest conversations with some of New Zealand’s most talented Paralympians. The athletes tell us about the books, food, music, people, places and taonga they love. They share the challenges they face living with disabilities, and the ways disabilities enrich their lives. And they talk about the assumptions and negative stereotypes people sometimes attach to disability and offer valuable advice and suggestions. Our Normal also features a history of the Paralympics including profiles of Māori and Pasifika Paralympic pioneers.

Click to view a sample of this book:

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Go Fiji, Go
Price range: $9.95 through $24.95 + GST
“Go Fiji Go!” Go Fiji Go is the inspiring story behind Fiji’s first Olympic gold medal … and the incredible joy it brought to the nation.

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Rugby: The Players, the Skills and the Style
Price range: $9.95 through $24.95 + GST
Who are the best kickers in rugby history?
The best tacklers?
The best passers?

Rugby: The Players, the Skills and the Style has the answers to these questions

Look inside the book by clicking here:

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Rugby: The History
Price range: $9.95 through $24.95 + GST
Who brought the game of rugby to New Zealand?
What’s the inspiring meaning behind the silver fern?
How did the All Blacks get their name?
What are the rules of wheelchair rugby?

Rugby: The History has the answers to these questions.

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Golden Kiwis
Price range: $9.95 through $24.95 + GST
Golden Kiwis tells the inspirational and sometimes unknown stories behind every Olympic gold medal won by New Zealanders.

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Oceania Olympians
Price range: $9.95 through $29.95 + GST
Meet some of the greatest athletes from the islands of Oceania! You’ll be inspired by Valerie Adams, the unstoppable Tongan-Kiwi shot putter. You’ll cheer for Jerry Tuwai, the two-time Olympic gold medallist from Fiji. You’ll be amazed by Lisa Carrington, the first Māori woman to win an Olympic gold medal.

The Olympians and Paralympians in this book faced great challenges to achieve their dreams, and they made their countries proud. Their stories will inspire you to strive for your goals and let your talents shine like the sun on the waters of Oceania!

Click to view a sample of this book:

Oceania Olympians
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Olympic Islands
Price range: $9.95 through $24.95 + GST
Who was the first athlete from Oceania to win an Olympic gold medal?

Who is the most successful Olympic athlete from the Pacific?

Olympic Islands has the answers to these questions. Olympic Islands celebrates the history and achievements of Pasifika Olympians.

Click to view a sample of this book:

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