To Distant Shores: New maritime novel's roots in post-Treaty NZ

When William C Hammond moved to New Zealand six years ago, he felt he had to bring his nautical fiction series with him too. After 30 years in publishing, Bill embarked on his own writing career in 1998 - creating what's become the Cutler Family Chronicles. It follows the fortunes of a 19th century naval family from Massachusetts - which is also where he hails from. His seventh novel in the series, To Distant Shores, sees his main character Richard Cutler command a US steam frigate on a mission to Sydney. But the ship is wrecked off the North Island's west coast, plunging the remaining crew right in the middle of the conflict that followed the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Bill joins Kathryn to talk about how he ended up in New Zealand, and the research that goes into his novels.