Small in stature, towering in character — Dr Charles Hazlitt Upham was one of Lyttelton’s most unforgettable figures. From London to the Royal Navy and on to New Zealand, his extraordinary life has never before been told in full.

Known as “The Little Doctor,” Upham was loved, respected, and impossible to ignore. He declined a knighthood, avoided praise, and walked the streets with his loyal dog — a humble man whose actions spoke louder than honours ever could.

Generous to a fault, fearless, eccentric, and utterly original, he gave away what he had to those in need and, even into old age, tackled life with remarkable energy and grit.

By turns fascinating, shocking, funny, and deeply moving, this compelling biography reveals a man of rare compassion and courage — and a life readers will not soon forget.