Historical and Cultural Context

Historical and Cultural Background

On an Isle Called Rotoroa looks at the practices and philosophies of the Salvation Army from an inside perspective, as well as their policies and attitudes on issues such as homosexuality, and their approach to the rehabilitation of alcoholics (which harks back to the origins of the Salvation Army in the Nineteenth Century, their establishment as a church via their Christian mission to take care of Whitechapel’s alcoholics and homeless in London).

As recently as the 1980’s homosexuality was diagnosed and treated as a mental illness. The book will give an insight into the underground homosexual scene of the eighties, the secret societies, and the cruise-scene.

This book gives a Pakeha (non-Maori) child’s perspective of New Zealand in the 70’s/80’s. At one of the old country schools I attended use of Te Reo (Maori language) was still being discouraged and at times punished by older school teachers. Maori culture was spoken of/treated in almost a ‘fabled’ fashion. All of this was set against the back drop of change eg The Springbok rugby tours of early 80’s that caused so much protest and division in New Zealand, and within individual families.

The alternate side of ‘civilised society’ is displayed - the diversity of sub-cultures that defy what is acceptable, with issues such as homosexuality, illicit drug taking, and mental illness.

This book writes about these issues in a non-judgemental way in order to give relativity to readers who identify with these issues, and also to give insight to those who have no experience of them.