A Place to Stand

'It is fascinating to read a Pākehā perspective of being a minority in a Māori community, and how locals gently, patiently helped.' Paul Diamond, NZ Listener

'A love letter to Hokianga and its people.' Atakohu Middleton, E Tangata

'A beautifully presented hardback, with black-and-white photographs throughout that add a strong sense of place. The physical book feels like part of the reading experience: considered, grounded and made to be kept. More than a memoir, A Place to Stand is a reflection on service, a weaving together of land and people, and a moving tribute to the meaning of standing with a community for the long haul.' Andrea Molloy, NZ Booklovers

Clare Ward is a country doctor living and working in the Hokianga Harbour area in the far north of Aotearoa New Zealand, a sparsely populated area where there are many health challenges.

This thoughtful memoir tells the story of Clare's thirty-year working life, the people she works with and the remote and isolated landscape in which she practises.

She explores what it means to be Pākehā in this deeply Māori world, writing about this with respect, while also acknowledging her standing as outsider.

Clare draws the reader in, telling people's stories with dignity and keeping them safe and anonymous. Writing in an understated way, she opens the door into the complex world of a rural doctor.