For many New Zealanders the 'sea' can be summed up in the words 'sun, sand and surf'. As an island nation most of us live or holiday near the sea and many of our memories and experiences are built around playing in, around and on the water. However, the seas have played a more significant role in the lives of New Zealanders - bringing us to this land, feeding us, transporting us before roads were built.

Today we are exploring the oceans with new technology, finding out how they work, how they affect climate and how they can feed us in the future. This superbly illustrated book tells the many stories of New Zealanders and the sea; from the science of oceanography and climate to the history of boatbuilding and shipping, lighthouses, castaways, the fishing industry, marine conservation, recreational boating and fishing, kaimoana and aquaculture. Over 400 colour photographs, maps and diagrams, along with text from some of New Zealand's leading science writers and historians, makes this a spectacular book.