With law and lifestyle changes, the 'local' in many areas of NZ is having trouble surviving. Our rural hotels, in particular, are noticing a drastic downturn in trade. Hotels are being sold and the buildings put to other uses, or just closing and the building falls into disrepair. For over 20 years Bob Walters lived with agoraphobia. Then, after a promise to his dying brother, and with help from his doctor, Bob and wife Marie began to explore NZ. From Northland to Bluff, the authors visited 1,000 in under 4 years. They had a small beer in each, took a photo, and recorded stories told to them by publicans or customers. They admit to not being professional photographers, but their camera lovingly recorded every pub they visited. They travelled roads some of us have never heard of, and have seen more of New Zealand in four years than most of us will see in a lifetime.