The Swing Around by Barbara Anderson

Novel by Barbara Anderson, winner of the 1992 Wattie Award and one of New Zealand's most celebrated writers. Set in the 1980s, the central character, the Minister of Cultural Links and Trade, Hamish Carew, accompanied by his wife and two young officials, sets off on a Swing around of New Zealand's Asian neighbours. It should be a routine affair but lurking on the horizon is the shadowy terrorist group, Lighting Storm. At the same time, several of the characters battle their own inner storms.