Brings to life the history of the most important agency of government in New Zealand for much of the last century. It traces the evolution of the Department of Internal Affairs from its genesis as the Colonial Secretary's Office in 1840, providing an overview of the development and expansion of government in New Zealand.

Michael Bassett is the author or co-author of eleven books on New Zealand's political history. Dr Bassett was New Zealand's Minister of Health and Local Government between 1984 and 1987, and Minister of Internal Affairs, Local Government, Civil Defence and Arts and Culture between 1987 and 1990. He has taught history at the University of Auckland, and was a visiting Professor of History in Canada and the United States between 1992 and 2002. He spent ten years (1994-2004) as a member of the Waitangi Tribunal.