The King Country; or, Explorations in New Zealand

A determined explorer sets out on a six‑hundred‑mile trek through New Zealand’s rugged King Country, a swath of land long kept off‑limits by its Māori inhabitants. Guided only by a trusted interpreter and a handful of horses, he ventures from the coastal town of Tauranga into a wilderness of towering forests, steep gorges and sweeping plains, intent on charting the unknown and presenting his credentials to the Māori King at a historic tribal gathering.

The journey quickly becomes a study in contrasts: scorching summer shade gives way to bitter, sub‑zero nights, while untouched rivers and hidden mountain passes reveal a landscape both beautiful and unforgiving. Along the way, the explorer records new geographical features, gathers local place‑names, and confronts the deep‑rooted wariness of a people protecting their territory. Listeners will feel the excitement of each day's discovery and the palpable tension of navigating a world where every step is both a scientific breakthrough and a delicate cultural encounter.