by Nick Spill
Te Rauparaha was a leading chief of the Ngati Toa tribe who took an influential part in the Musket Wars (initiated by the Ngapuhi) of early 19th century New Zealand. He signed the Treaty of Waitangi twice. He also wrote the haka (war dance) Ka Mate to celebrate his escape from death in one of his many battles. The New Zealand All Blacks perform Ka Mate before they play rugby.
“Ena whakamaku ki enei whakamaku!” “Your popguns against ours!” Hei Hei’s reply mimics Te Rauparaha’s response.
Miles per hour: In 1975, New Zealand, as part of its metrification, changed the speed limit from 55 miles per hour to 80 kilometers per hour (50 miles per hour.) All the car models in this novel still had miles per hour gauges.
Characters
Police Commissioner Ian Thompson: about to retire, thinks he can handle the Maori gang issue by going after a tribal leader not affiliated with a gang.
Police Inspector Bernie Grimble: a relentless investigator tasked by the police commissioner for an unofficial operation.
Sergeant Cadd: Inspector Grimble’s new sidekick.
Donna: Cadd’s girlfriend.
Wiremu Wilson: a Ngapuhi leader and Land Rights activist.
Hone Wilson: Wiremu’s younger brother, an academic who is researching a Political Science Thesis for his PhD.
Hei Hei: Wiremu’s cousin who has his own agenda.
Henry Lotus: a theoretical physicist just returned from New York, having been rescued by his girlfriend.
Dr. Mel Johnson: Henry’s girlfriend, a doctor at a new Women’s Clinic in Ponsonby. She is skilled in various martial arts.
Clovis Tibet: a large red-haired classical violinist back from New York where he rescued his girlfriend.
Plum Blossom: Clovis’s girlfriend, a third generation Chinese New Zealander, who is an actress.
Rodney: a friend of Henry’s who is building a yacht.
Terry Turner: “Terry the Turk” Auckland’s criminal mastermind, originally from London.
John Eustace: “Big John” Terry Turner’s very large and scary looking enforcer.
Moana Wilson: a young relative of Wiremu who has been lured to Auckland.
Lance Beefeater: a gentleman farmer’s son from Hamilton.
Alan Crispfeldt: the distinguished attorney who represents Wiremu Wilson and Henry Lotus.
The widow Wadman: lives next door to Terry Turner with her poodle, Ruffles.
Matthew Bounder: Clovis’s musician friend, leader of various rock groups, including the recent group Particle Board. Other band members include:
Rua: the large Maori drummer,
Sheila: the brunette bass player with killer legs,
Billy Whitehorn: the lead guitarist and
Rodger: plays keyboards and now looks like a Mormon.
Sam Look: Plum Blossom’s guardian and grandfather.
Bruce Look: a third generation Chinese New Zealander who manages a market garden company with his two younger brothers:
Tony Look: the suburban accountant and middle brother.
Chuck Look: Bruce’s youngest motorcycle riding brother.
Ricky Wong: owns and operates the Hungry Wok, a takeout shop opposite the Three Lamps and is related to the Looks.
Marty Wong: his brother. They also run a martial arts supply company.
Tony: the four-hundred-pound Rarotongan bouncer at the Gluepot upstairs at the Three Lamps.
Inspector Wallace McShane: head of the Drug Squad. Other members of the Drug Squad include Sergeant Adams, Saunders, Anderson and Karl.
Rangi: the truck driver from Hokianga.
Freddy, Rere and Mokau: close friends of Hei Hei.
Playlist
“Rainy Day Woman # 12 & 35” Bob Dylan
“Have You Heard?” John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton
“Ten Guitars” Tom Jones
“Wild Thing” Jimi Hendrix
“Land of a Thousand Dances” Wilson Pickett
“Women of Ireland” Barry Lyndon Soundtrack
“Stranger than Fiction” Split Enz
“House of the Rising Sun” The Animals
“Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” The Rolling Stones
“String Sextet No. 2 in G Major Op. 111” Johannes Brahms–Amadeus Quartet with Friends on Deutsche Grammophon
“Bungle in the Jungle” Jethro Tull
“Hungarian Czarda for solo violin” Barry Lyndon Soundtrack
“Sympathy for the Devil” The Rolling Stones
“The Ying Tong Song” from the Goon Show
“Te Po nui, Te Po roa” a Waiata
“Too Much Between Us” Procol Harum
Other books by Nick Spill available as Amazon e-books and paperbacks:
Reluctant Q – with George Spill
The Way of the Bodyguard
About The Author
Nick Spill attended the University of Auckland. He was exhibitions curator at the National Art Gallery in New Zealand. He came to the US in 1980 on an Arts Council grant. Spill formed a Private Investigation Agency in Miami and later become Chief Investigator for a State Agency. He authored The Way of the Bodyguard about his years as a bodyguard and investigator, and The Jaded Kiwi and The Jaded Spy, dark crime novels set in New Zealand. Spill co-wrote his father’s Burma war memoir Reluctant Q. Returning from a lecture he delivered at the Auckland Art Gallery, he wrote the illustrated essay Reflections on the TranzAlpine: Kiwis, Art, Death, Coffee, Sex.