Scandinavian footprints. A Story of Scandinavians Settling in New Zealand. By Margit Brew. In Softcovers spine a little faded and small bruise at top, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR on the title page, First Edition 2007, small chip edge title page, Black and White Plates, illustrations, 319 Pages, Published By The Author. A Very Good Copy. 'With the economic depression of the 1870s stalling progress, the New Zealand Government turned to Scandinavia for help. It was the Norwegians, swedes and Danes who arrived to take up the challenge of clearing the extremely dense bush of the Wairarapa, Manawatu, and Hawke's Bay. these lumbermen, farmers and carpenters proved their capacity for great hardship and perseverance. they opened up new parts of the country for development and enabled roads and railways to be built. Sober and industrious, they impressed other settlers with their cheerful disposition. Its 1866 and into this scene comes Swede Bror Erik Friberg and his young wife. Bror Erik is soon singled out by the government to act as agent, with focus on the Scandinavian settlers in Hawke's Bay. Margit Brew gives a lively description of Bror Erik's early life in Sweden and highlights his concerns for the difficulties his countrymen face. As her research discovered, they arrive heavily in debt to the government and strive to survive in a country where nobody speaks their language. There is plenty of sickness with little or no medical care. Deaths are frequent'