Name-game book just the thing to buy dad

Author Nicola McCloy with her new book 'Whykickamoocow'. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Old news inspired a fresh idea when author Nicola McCloy was rifling through the New Zealand room at the Auckland Library last year.

Researching her second book, New Zealand Mysteries, the Random House editor stumbled across a Herald article from 1930 about council plans to change Invercargill's name to Cargill: [Mr H. J. Macalister] said Invercargill was not a euphonious name. He understood the name was bestowed in Dunedin as a joke during a banquet at which Captain Cargill was present.

Originally from Invercargill, McCloy had never heard the story before and found herself profoundly amused.

"I was just laughing and laughing, I realised I had no idea where the name came from, so that got me thinking," said McCloy.

Fascinated by the story, she was driven to research other curious New Zealand place names, which she has now compiled in her new book Whykickamoocow.

"I travel around a lot and I found that I'd be in a place and start thinking, 'what's that about?'

"Feilding drives me insane because, as an editor, every fibre of your being wants to change the spelling," said McCloy.

From Russell to Dagg Sound, McCloy explores the origins of New Zealand place names in her compact-sized book.

Raglan is the author's favourite place name. "Purely because Raglan is really famous for its left-hand surf break. Lord Raglan, whom it was named after, actually lost his right arm at Waterloo. That really appealed to my sense of humour."

The book took McCloy just three months to research and write as she had already collected the bulk of her resources before the idea came to her.

"I'm a shocking one for information centres when I'm travelling. I have this box full of those tourism pamphlets. I love them," she said.

Though McCloy deliberately wrote the book as an entertaining collection of "yarns", she said it still had a solid historical basis.

As well as explaining local place names, the book solves another timeless question.

"I write 'what the hell am I going to buy Dad?' books. That's the niche I think about."

* Whykickamoocow will be released next Friday.