Well, there are two very different "Penguin Book(s) of New Zealand Verse" and I am surprised that this version, the less famous, is the one selected.

I have both and have poured over both.

This one, the Wedde version, has a very nice modern New Zealand aspect to it, many recent poets, respect for Maori traditions.

The older, the Allen Curnow, has a mildly confrontational introduction that takes up probably 1/5th of the book and, as discussed in great detail by James K. Baxter, apologizes for New Zealand poetry as not being British enough, doesn't describe the veins and growth of New Zealand poetry to that time, and shows the resentment of a famous but clearly poor, even clumsy, poet (Curnow) having a chance to stake his claims on the large stage.

Both are great books. Both are road signs, mile stones, in the young history of New Zealand poetry. ( )