Written in 1986, Wild Pork and Watercress, by Barry Crump, is the story of Ricky Baker, Ricky is 12 years and 3 weeks old and is a Maori Boy. Told in first person narrative, Ricky tells his story with humor.
Ricky is a victim of racism and the New Zealand social well fair system. HE continues to run away from authority, and tells us he is treated differently because of his dark skin.

We learn that Ricky is misunderstood, people are too quick to make assumptions about him.Ricky is actually very clever, and a fast learner. Ricky is finally sent to live with his aunt Bella and uncle Heck on a run down farm by a river far inland from Gisborne. “The Faulkner’s farm was up a valley beside a river called the Apopo, and everything about the place was the old and falling to bits”. Aunt Bella is loving and accepting, she treats Ricky like her own son. Uncle hec is a man of few words who can be grumpy. “He can talk the talk but cant walk the walk” = he is a lazy farmer.