Book Giveaway | Miss Bumby’s Mission

Miss Bumbys Mission
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We are very pleased to be giving away two copies of JM Laird’s book, ‘Miss Bumby’s Mission’, to our GrownUps members.

All you need to do to enter the draw is be a GrownUps member, make sure you’re signed up to our newsletter and fill in your details near the bottom of the page!

Miss Bumbys MissionAbout Miss Bumby’s Mission

A fascinating historical novel based on the real-life Mary Bumby, the first person to successfully bring honeybees to New Zealand

In 1838 when Mary Bumby’s brother John decided to travel from England to be a missionary in New Zealand, she went with him. And she took two hives of live bees on their arduous six-month sea voyage.

This story tells, in her own words, how both Mary and her skeps of bees survived this incredible adventure. When they landed in the Hokianga, she became New Zealand’s first beekeeper.

Based on Mary’s actual diary and accounts by others, this novel shows near-forgotten skep-keeping practices and what it was like for Mary as one of the few European women living in pre-treaty New Zealand.

‘Miss Bumby’s Mission is a delight – it is the perfect blend of historical fact and compelling characters and plot.’ NZ Booklovers

Author Note

‘Mary Bumby is famous in local beekeeping circles as the first to succeed in bringing honeybees to New Zealand. From my earliest beekeeping lessons, I’ve wondered how she managed it.

Two hundred years ago, bees were kept in skeps, those upside-down baskets featured on honey jars. During my research, I spent a day in Herefordshire learning to weave bramble canes around wet straw to produce a wonky skep. In Mary’s hometown of Thirsk, Yorkshire, I wandered the streets and talked to locals who still knew the Bumby name.

The world of Wesleyan missionaries was new to me, and I had to learn about the various personalities and practices they brought to this country. Serendipitously, I discovered a book about John Hobbs during a visit to Mangungu in the Hokianga; a book about Mary and her brother during a museum visit in Thirsk; and another book about Mary in the John Kinder Theological Library.

When I needed a writing project for my Masters in Creative Writing, a book about Mary seemed the obvious choice. I had the time to research, the motivation to finish, and the background to understand some of her beekeeping practices. Here, at last, is the story of Miss Bumby’s Mission.’

About the Author

JM Laird is a New Zealand hobbyist beekeeper with a passion for planting native trees. She’s a bit of a hippy; growing her own food, generating electricity and collecting rainwater.

This book was written as part of her Master of Creative Writing thesis, and she has written two previous novels as Josie Laird. Her previous degree was a BSc in Botany, Microbiology and Genetics, and she has worked in science-related fields including medical publishing.

Her inspiration for Miss Bumby’s Mission came when she began beekeeping and learnt about the history of honeybees in New Zealand. In 2019 she visited the birthplace of Mary Bumby and took a workshop in England on skep-making.

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Terms and conditions

    1. You must be a GrownUps member and receive our newsletter to be eligible to win.
    2. Competition closes on the 23rd April 2025, winners will be notified via email by 24th April 2025.
    3. It is your responsibility to ensure you correctly enter a New Zealand postal address where the prize can be sent. GrownUps will not take responsibility for prizes sent to incorrect addresses.
    4. Winners are drawn at random by the GrownUps administration team.
    5. GrownUps employees and family are not eligible to enter.
    6. By entering the giveaway, you approve for GrownUps to use your name on social media as winner of the competition.
    7. One entry per household.
    8. Prize in non transferrable.
    9. You must reside in New Zealand – the prize can only be redeemed within New Zealand.
    10. You must be over 50 years of age to enter, please check your details are correct in your membership dashboard.