None of this research would have been organised as smoothly as it was without the hard work of an extraordinarily good research assistant. Dianne kept the journey on track and made it fun along the way.
I’m also very grateful to Don and Keaka. Don listened to too many draft versions to count, cross-checked references until too late at night, and, at times, laid the patience on with a trowel when I ran out of coffee, clean clothes, and words. Keaka, who has always been older than he is, used his whole 9 years of experience to ask innocent questions, which set me thinking in new ways, as he listened to me read draft material.
I wouldn’t be an anthropologist today if not for John Gray, Deane Fergie, and Rod Lucas. Between them, they taught me most things I needed to know and I can’t say how grateful I am to each of them—not just for the advice but for the spirit of friendship in which it was given. I also want to thank Nigel Rapport, who, it seemed, appeared out of the blue one day and told me to publish my first book. It is from this kind of support that my confidence to produce more material grew. I am also grateful to Nigel for agreeing to write the foreword to this book.
To my friend and fellow anthropologist, Megan Warin, I give my sincere thanks and gratitude—Megan’s intelligent insights and gentle critical questions helped to form my early thoughts about this project.
Finally, I’d like to thank Sharon Lewis and Colleen Solly, who gave every kind of support they knew how while this work was in its earliest stages. I’m as glad to acknowledge you at the end of this process as I was grateful to you for being there at its beginning.