Crest to Crest is an anthology of writings about Canterbury gleaned from 78 authors nationwide. While the majority are currently resident in Canterbury, all have connections with the province and empathy for the region. The content is organised on a geographic theme: Coast, City, Plains, High Country, each section featuring a selection of nonfiction, creative nonfiction, memoir, short stories and poetry.

Many writers are of national and international repute, while others are established or emerging writers of all ages. Works by Owen Marshall, Fiona Farrell, Apirana Taylor, Bernadette Hall, James Norcliffe, Tony Beyer, Harvey McQueen, Tom Weston, Rachel McAlpine, Michael Harlow, Mark Pirie, David Eggleton stand alongside poems by Charlotte Trevella (written aged 11), Stephanie Lester (8), Ellie Cradwick (14), Juliet McLachlan (8) and the delightful ‘Notes from a Godwit’s Diary’, a collaboration by St Andrew’s College Year 3 Students. Established writers include Frankie McMillan, Coral Atkinson, Laurence Fearnley, Helen Lowe, Ruth Arnison, Nancy Cawley, Siobhan Harvey, Claire Hero, Diana Menefy, Jenny Haworth, Jenny Powell, Barbara Strang, Pamela Wade and many others.

The works in this anthology have been selected not only to celebrate writing and writers, but the province of Canterbury. Through the eyes of the 78 writers, each with his or her own attitudes and perspectives, genre and style, the reader can assemble a picture of Canterbury, its variety and richness. Some pieces ‘speak’ to one another, offering complementary or contrasting views, yet leave the reader to reach his or her own conclusions. Some pieces are laudatory, others irreverent or whimsical; some evoke an experience, an atmosphere; still others are factual.

Subjects range from contemplating the birth of the province, historical pieces of both fact and fiction, to the people who have inhabited the land over time, a number of writers reflecting upon the Canterbury of their childhood or youth. The sea, the shore, the bush, farming, tramping, flora and fauna are celebrated.

Although the focus is upon Canterbury, most topics have relevance to New Zealand as a whole. Ours is a country of pioneers, immigrants and farmers. Every New Zealander has gazed at the sculptural form of a cabbage tree, heard the melodious call of the bellbird, and in every corner of this land our mountains, our maunga, are revered.

This anthology has been compiled from submissions, and comprises almost entirely contemporary writing. No attempt has been made to search out classic New Zealand poetry and prose; this has been anthologised elsewhere. It has been the intention of the publisher, Wily Publications, to foster new writing and new writers.