“Evolving Auckland” wins a Colin Crisp Award

“Evolving Auckland , the City’s Engineering Heritage”, edited by John La Roche, has received a highly commended in the 2013 Colin Crisp award for publications. This 335 page book describing the development of Auckland’s harbour, water supply and sewage treatment, roads and motorways, ferries and trams, railways, bridges, telecommunications, aviation, military protection, energy supplies, industry and buildings is the first book its kind in New Zealand.

The Colin Crisp Award is Australia's premier award for excellence in Engineering Heritage projects. It is awarded biennially at the National Engineering Heritage Conference, and it is thought to be the first time that a New Zealand book has received such an honour.

The idea of publishing such a book had been discussed by the Engineering Heritage Auckland Chapter in 2006 when the Chapter had published a 48 page booklet entitled Heritage Walks – The Engineering Heritage of Auckland. However this booklet covered only the significant engineering sites within walking distance of Auckland’s central business district, and the Chapter felt that there was so much more engineering heritage in our region that needed to be recorded.

Because the authors all had specialist knowledge about the subjects they have written about, the publication is unique in recording of Auckland’s history. The writers joined the Auckland Engineering Heritage Chapter because of their passion for the recording and preserving Auckland’s engineering heritage. They have created a book, which is accessible for the general reader. While accurate it is without the lengthy technical details which can often obscure the story. It is this which has attracted the attention of the Australian judges.

Published by Wily Publications Ltd of Christchurch, Evolving Auckland has been well received by many people – engineers, both in New Zealand and internationally and anyone who has an interest in how a major city develops its infrastructure.

Evolving Auckland is available from all good bookshops, from the publisher info@wily.co.nz or John La Roche johnlaroche@xtra.co.nz.