COMP CLOSED | Book Giveaway | The Biggest Kiwi in the World

The biggest Kiwi in the World
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We are very pleased to be giving away two copies of Colleen Brown’s book, ‘The Biggest Kiwi in the World’, 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!

The biggest Kiwi in the WorldAbout The Biggest Kiwi in the World

Colleen Brown brings us another astonishing children’s story about the 130m-tall Kiwi, carved into a hill in southern England in 1919 by New Zealand troops waiting to go home at the end of the World War One.

This is a true New Zealand story

Join Danny Fisher, his grand-daughter Pru, and his dog Kiwi as they take you back in time … to 1919 when our national emblem – the KIWI – was carved into the chalky slopes of Beacon Hill, above Sling Camp in Southern England by NZ soldiers at the end of WW1. Discover how our Kiwi was saved from extinction by Danny Fisher a British soldier, and his men in 1980. And how now our Kiwi is a protected Heritage England monument, still standing proudly on Beacon Hill.

Originally carved to keep New Zealand troops busy while they waited for ships to take them home after WW1, the kiwi became an emblem to be proud of and a cherished link to home. For many of those involved in its construction, and later its resurrection, the Bulford Kiwi came to represent all those servicemen who had passed through Sling Camp, especially those who would never go home.

It was a memorial built by soldiers, not governments, for themselves and their mates.

The British Government made the Bulford Kiwi a scheduled monument in 2017 to honour the New Zealand soldiers who played a significant role in the Battle of Messines, fought in Belgium in June 1917.

About the Author

Colleen Brown, author of ‘Violet’s Scarf’ and ‘Elvie the Sheep’, intended writing this story 15 years ago, but was side-tracked by the material she uncovered while researching the story. She turned that information into ‘The Bulford Kiwi. The Kiwi we left behind.’

Finally, it’s time to tell the children’s version of that story – ‘The Biggest Kiwi in the World’.Illustrated by Emma Lay the books cleverly takes the reader back in time through the use of sepia images, while Danny Fisher narrates the story to his granddaughter Pru.

Colleen writes regularly for The NZ Listener and contributes to disability and education research publications. She has a master’s degree in education policy and served on the Manukau City Council for nine years and for 15 years as a Counties Manukau representative on the DHB.

Colleen, Kai Tahu from the deep south, lives with her family in Hillpark, South Auckland, in one of the remaining Auckland urban forests.  In 2024 she was made a Companion of the King’s Service Order for her services to people with disabilities, local government and the community.

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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 30th April 2025, winners will be notified via email by 1st May 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.