¿I¿m writing this by lamplight. That¿s right. Like Swiss Family Robinson or something. We¿re up here with no electricity or running water, while just across from us and down the road is the real world.¿ Erica Tito had the perfect summer holiday planned. Then her father decided the whole family would pack up and join the protestors at Bastion Point in Auckland. No way! Instead of spending dreamy summer days training Silver, her first-ever horse, Erica and her family have to camp in tents, without basics like running water and electricity. At first, everyone thinks the protest will be over quickly, but as weeks turn into months, it becomes clear that Erica will not be going home and, worse, may never see Silver again. Through Erica's heartfelt diary entries we learn about the daily lives of the protestors, listen in on grand speeches and fiery confrontations between the protestors, Nga ̄ti Wha ̄tua elders, police and politicians. And we witness the distressing eviction of the occupiers ¿ all seen through the eyes of a Maori girl previously unaware of race and land issues. My New Zealand Story is a series of vividly imagined accounts of life in the past ... making history come alive.