Our Mountains

Experienced climber and author Paul Hersey, teams up with photographer Mark Watson in this colour illustrated exploration of 15 New Zealand mountains. The pair travels from north to south over the course of a year visiting significant summits throughout the country. There is an overarching environmental theme running through the narrative as Hersey questions the value New Zealanders place on our ecological heritage and discusses local issues with the people living on and near the mountains. There are references to history, Maoritanga, geology, farming and conservation alongside entertaining and engaging personal comment. Stunning photographs captured by Mark Watson integrate the text with ‘images of place’ to complete a moving evocation of the New Zealand landscape. 



Paul Hersey has climbed, surfed, mountain-biked, or otherwise explored his way through most corners of New Zealand and many destinations overseas. He is the author of two books about climbing, Where the Mountains Throw Their Dice and High Misadventure both published by New Holland. He writes articles for various magazines and approaches each new writing or climbing challenge with boundless enthusiasm.



Mark Watson is a Lyttelton-based photographer and graphic designer, whose work has been widely published in books, magazines and calendars.  He has spent several years working for the New Zealand Alpine Club, has been managing editor of The Climber magazine and editor of New Zealand Alpine Journal, and has directed the publishing and design for numerous guidebooks.