This book is for people who enjoy driving and exploring the stories of our back roads, but most of all it is for people who love New Zealand, whether they choose to do it from behind the wheel of their SUV or the comfort of their sofa. Stories from our Backroads: North Island will introduce you to some fascinating stories of tracks, trails and back roads across the North Island. Many of them cross through forgotten parts of the country, and all of them have their own rich and exciting stories. Whether they follow the route of Maori foot trails or the path of early European settlers, each adds something to our history. For example, the track up the Kauaeranga Valley has seen Maori inhabitants, who named the place after the river in flood - Kauarenga means 'no crossing here' - then came the kauri fellers, who were followed by gold miners. All of them adding something new to the valley's story.