About No.8 Re-Wired

This is the website of the book of the same name — No.8 Re-Wired, published October 2014 by Penguin Books.

No.8 Re-Wired celebrates the inventions and ingenuity of Kiwis, taking Kiwi ingenuity to global success. There are well over 200 inventions or innovations of note from New Zealand, and over time this website will feature them all. From modern innovations like the Martin Jetpack to some of the earliest innovations in our history, No.8 Re-Wired celebrates New Zealand’s impact on the world.

If necessity is the mother of invention, then Kiwi ingenuity is certainly the father. This comprehensive compendium is a treasury of New Zealand inventions — packed with the stories of 202 inventions and the people who made them.

From well-known innovations (human flight, the discovery of DNA and the creation of the Pavlova) to those which are less known (instant coffee, the referee’s whistle) to the newest high-tech world-leaders (robots and jetpacks!), this is the most complete and entertaining book ever on Kiwi ingenuity.

The book’s light-hearted approach and strong visual layout appeal to a wide range of readers — perfect for Dad, and with stories to impress your aunty and entertain the whole family. It’s a celebration of the No.8 wire spirit that made New Zealand what it is today, and a look at how innovation can power us into the future.