Books published by Upstart Press Ltd

Flying Furballs, a hilarious action-packed adventure series, captures the romance and excitement of the era at the dawn of aviation - set in a world of cats versus dogs.

Michael Kenneth Moore was probably New Zealand's last working-class Prime Minister and while the book is inevitably political, it is also a remarkable New Zealand story about an ordinary kiwi achieving extraordinary things. This book is based on conversations held with Mike Moore... over the past 12 months and reflections on his life and career involving people who were part of it. The chapters focus on key moments in his life - growing up partially crippled in poverty in rural Northland, moving to Auckland and becoming a trade unionist and New Zealand's youngest MP, losing his seat and fighting the Labour Party to get another one only to be diagnosed with cancer, helping make David Lange Prime Minister and beating Muldoon, the turmoil of the fourth Labour Government including becoming Prime Minister for only 59 days, taking Labour to within two seats of Government and being cruelling deposed as leader by Helen Clark in 1993, the years in wilderness when he came close to setting up a new party and not participating in a coup against Clark, his audacious campaign to become Director General of the World Trade Organisation, becoming New Zealand's Ambassador to the US and the stroke that cut it short, and his hopes for the future. In a country that celebrates sporting success Moore's story is also heroic because he has the same traits of smarts, hard work and determination to achieve at the highest levels - despite numerous setbacks - that all New Zealanders admire in the successful. Peter Parussini has had more than 30 years of experience in the communications industry, spanning journalism, sports marketing, university lecturing, education, sponsorships, branding, broadcasting, politics and international affairs. He is currently a senior executive within the banking world.
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Both te reo Maori and English are presented in one redesigned edition. Based around the story of hapu Ngati Tu Maia, The Standing Strong House revolves around multiple generations, weaving their stories together in a way that celebrates tipuna, mokopuna, and kaitieki. Reina Kahuk...iwa's provides both the English and the te reo Maori text making this a wonderful reo resource for all.
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Donovan Bixley re-tells the story of how Maui captured the secret of fire. The traditional tale but with Donovan's unique twist and trademark humour. Darryn Joseph and Keri Opai ensure that the story is accurate and culturally appropriate and translate the story for the Te Reo ed...ition.
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Flying Furballs, a hilarious action-packed adventure series, captures the romance and excitement of the era at the dawn of aviation. In Breakout, Claude finds himself in Russia working with an old enemy to save important CAT allies.