The Montana finalist book, Age of Enterprise has been widely acknowledged as making the first rigorous assessment of New Zealand entrepreneurship. Drawing on case studies of entrepreneurs like Bendix Hallenstein, James Speight, Robert Hannah, George Methven, and others, it applies historical evidence to reveal how the small, organic, rapidly-expanding firm was a potent force in New Zealand’s growth.
Said NZ Business: ‘This important book provides the first comprehensive tribute to New Zealand’s founding entrepreneurs, while rewriting a crucial period in New Zealand’s economic history – often dubbed the “Long Depression”.’ This book shows how entrepreneurship and innovation transformed the economy in the late 19th century.’
This new history of nineteenth-century New Zealand deserves to have a global impact. It successfully re-writes economic history to reveal the crucial contribution of entrepreneurs to economic growth…’ Professor Mark Casson