Travel runs in the family. My matrilineal ancestors took the red ship from Hobart; the patrilineals rode Starlifters from Christchurch. Instead, I merely fly an aeroboat over Aotearoa, the three islands: the Fish, the Canoe and finally Te Punga, the anchor. That last island has different names, depending on time and conquest. Stewart called it after himself; then it became Rakiura.

While some aspects of her work can be challenging, including the English nationalism of Swastika Night, Katharione Burdekin's bold speculations were extraordinary for the period—as is the fact that she got them into print with major publishers, to appreciative reviews. As a writer on gender Burdekin is even more relevant in our troubled times. Her words, her ideas, retain their danger now.