Hot on the heels of some large sporting event where New Zealand tried to show the world who we are (in our best light) comes a new book of prose poems by Vivienne Plumb, which shows a New Zealand I recognise as authentic. She celebrates and satirises such New Zealand icons as ferry crossings, sly grogging, crockpots, whitebait, weather, gambling, tramping, motels and cheese and onion sandwiches.

An essential guide to New Zealand as it really is.

The cover was inspired by postage stamps from New Zealand's past, such as these ones from 1898, while the image of the kiwi was taken (with permission) from a detail of a 1935 10-shilling note.

The Cheese and Onion Sandwich and other New Zealand Icons: Prose Poems has a recommended retail price of $20. You can order directly from Seraph Press, or you can buy it through your local bookseller.

For more about The Cheese and Onion Sandwich, and to read some sample poems, visit its page on the site: http://www.seraphpress.co.nz/cheese-and-onion.html.