Kiwi ecologist and best-selling natural history author Robert Vennell is back with a new book. 

He published his first book seven years ago – 'The meaning of Trees' looking at the history and use of New Zealand's native plants.  

Since then, he's published 'Secrets of the Sea', 'The Forgotten Forest', and just last month released 'Song of the Birds', looking at the history of our native birds. 

In the book, Vennell looks at both how humans have impacted and shaped the lives of birds, and also how birds have shaped the lives of humans. 

"They've shaped our culture, and our, our language, and our worldview in lots of different ways," he told Jack Tame. 

"The book kind of explores the influence of birds on Te Ao Māori, sort of through the culture, through how birds have influenced the language, through whakapapa, through waiata and poetry..."  

"But also how birds have come to be this kind of shared New Zealand identity, a big part of how we think about ourselves is these kinds of distinctive, unique creatures in this little island in the South Pacific."  

LISTEN ABOVE 

Kiwi ecologist and best-selling natural history author Robert Vennell is back with a new book.&nbsp;
He published his first book seven years ago – 'The meaning of Trees' looking at the history and use of New Zealand's native plants. &nbsp;
Since then, he's published 'Secrets of the Sea', 'The Forgotten Forest', and just last month released 'Song of the Birds', looking at the history of our native birds.&nbsp;
In the book, Vennell looks at both how humans have impacted and shaped the lives of birds, and also how birds have shaped the lives of humans.&nbsp;
"They've shaped our culture, and our, our language, and our worldview in lots of different ways," he told Jack Tame.&nbsp;
"The book kind of explores the influence of birds on Te Ao Māori, sort of through the culture, through how birds have influenced the language, through whakapapa, through waiata and poetry..." &nbsp;
"But also how birds have come to be this kind of shared New Zealand identity, a big part of how we think about ourselves is these kinds of distinctive, unique creatures in this little island in the South Pacific." &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB.

News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB. News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB.News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Robert Vennell: Ecologist and natural history author on his new book 'Song of the Birds'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8a9f1eb6-db1b-4930-a393-b4f4001a2f64/transcript