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The books below can be purchased from the Friends of Waiuta by emailing us
Delivery: $12 or $17 for rural delivery NZ wide
Through the Eyes of a Miner 3rd Edition by Simon Nathan (9780473657147 – hardback, 124pp) $50
A native of Bohemia, miner Jos Divis photographed life in New Zealand mining towns Blackball, Waiuta and Waihi, places where he worked between 1909 and 1935. Thanks to Divis’s graphic and sensitive work we have an extraordinary record of the isolated and often dangerous life in some of our mining communities – above ground and deep beneath it – seen through the eyes of a miner. This third edition contains additional photographs and more information on the life of Joseph Divis.
For nearly 100 years the name Jos Divis was missing from histories of New Zealand photography. Now a wrong is being righted. Some call him the ‘inventor of the selfie’. A street photographer ahead of his time he pioneered techniques to capture images of ordinary people and their working lives in a way no-one else could. Imprisoned for his beliefs, he lived his last years alone in the ghost town he helped bring to life, his family believing him dead. JOS is a journey of discovery following a historian, a photographer and a museum curator all working to give Jos Divis’ the recognition he deserves.
Friends in Chains by Bob Henderson (9780473699925 – softcover, 145pp) $50
Friends in Chains is an extraordinary book about the life of a teamster, written by Bob Henderson.
Bob was born in Greymouth in 1879. The family later moved to Taylorville around 1890 when Bob’s father contracted with the Brunner Mine to supply mining timber.
Bob was employed as a telegraph messenger when the Brunner mine exploded in 1896 and spent three days delivering telegrams to the large number of families affected by the explosion. He moved on to Reefton to work in various activities but became known as a teamster and this book is about his experiences as such, in the Reefton and Nelson areas. He was employed to transport heavy machinery to isolated mine sites, along narrow, winding and steep tracks with horses and wagons. His descriptions of these events evoke the hardship these men and horses lived through and his ‘chatty’ stories bring this all to life. Trips were also made to Nelson, Westport and surrounding areas.
Originally published in 1961 and reprinted by friends of Waiuta inc. 2024. Revised and updated format with extra images added.
Our Own Fun : Childhood Memories of Waiuta by Les Wright (9780473110437 – paperback, 144pp) $25
Waiuta, a township in the West Coast’s upper Grey Valley, lasted no longer than 45 years before the gold mine that had sustained it closed. However, people who grew up there retain strong and mostly happy memories, despite having little provided in the way of possessions or entertainment. This collection of more than 30 childhood reminiscences has been put together to mark the centenary of a place where, as kids of that era often recall: ‘We made our own fun’.
Hard Won Gold : Stories of Waiuta and the Reefton Goldfields by Ross & Pauline Barnett (9780473458751 – softback, 150pp) $50
This is the story of how the tricky deposits of the Reefton Goldfield yielded great riches throughout the 20th century. It’s a a story of clever entrepreneurs, technology innovators, hard-working miners and their families and other interesting characters who left their mark on the area’s history. The book shows not only how gold and the miners created a rich heritage of stories and sites, but also gives hints there may be more gold to come.
Of Mice and Mining Men – The Story of Alborns Coal Mine, Merrijigs Coalfield, Reefton, West Coast, New Zealand by Jim Staton (9780473578398 – softback, 60pp) $25
‘Of Mice and Mining Men’ tells the story of Alborns Coal Mines at Merrijigs Reefton coalfield.
Alborns was more than one mine, it was a group of workings and its original name was Clele. Mining began in the late 1870s to supply nearby quartz mines and continued through much of the 20th century.
As is often the case, the terrain was challenging and some good old Kiwi ingenuity was needed.
Wooden flumes ran for several kilometres, and inclune systems were powered by old vehicle engines.
Waiuta, 1906-1951: the Gold Mine, the Town, the People by Gerard Morris (0473003600 – softback, 137pp) $50
This book tells the story of the gold mining town of Waiuta, on the West Coast of the South Island.The discovery of the Birthday Reef near Greek Creek in November 1905 marked the beginning of a flourishing 45-year chapter in West Coast history. Waiuta developed as an industrial town clustered around an ever deepening mine shaft and went on to become New Zealand’s second biggest goldmine.
1882 – 1942 Big River Quartz Mine. A Worthwhile Speculation by Les Wright (9780473022372 – softback, 144pp) $50
This book outlines the history of the Big River quartz gold mine and tells the stories of some of those who lived and worked in this remote and inhospitable region.
The Big River gold mine was located south of Reefton on New Zealand’s West Coast of the South Island. Intensive mining started in 1882 and carried on for 60 years, quite a long time in mining circles.
Reefton School Of Mines, 1886-1970 : Stories Of Jim Bolitho by Jim Bolitho (9780473406707 – softback, 163pp) $50
This book examines the development of gold mining, coal mining and uranium prospecting, interwoven with the history of a prominent mining family in the Reefton region.