Places

Date: 19 Dec 1999

From: New Zealand Netherlands Foundation oral history project, stage two

By: Van Kregten, Hans, active 1999; Slappendel, Caroline, 1958-

Reference: OHInt-0484-01

Description: Carol Slappendel was born in Lower Hutt in 1958. Talks about her parent's arrival in Wellington on the `Oranje' in 1953. Describes her family's background and parent's reasons for emigrating. Mentions her father had been in forced labour in Germany. Describes growing up in Upper Hutt and being different. Comments on her mother's difficulty in adjusting to New Zealand and return trips to Holland. Recalls Upper Hutt College and Massey University, returning to Holland for three years and working as a researcher at a university. Describes returning to New Zealand with a Dutch partner and difficulty in readjusting. Comments on marrying, getting residency for her partner and employment difficulties. Describes lecturing at Massey University for ten years and then working for ACC. Discusses losing her Dutch passport and nationality, her family's relationship with Holland and her feelings about being a New Zealander. Interviewer(s) - Hans Van Kregten Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 1 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2703.

Date: 19 06 00 - 19 Jun 2000

From: YWCA of Wellington and Hutt Valley oral history project

By: Levett, Vera Schlesinger, 1935-

Reference: OHInt-0590-7

Description: Vera Levett was born in Trencin, Czechoslovakia in 1935. Mentions Jewish origin, and talks about her mother who was a seamstress and her father who was a doctor. Talks about escaping Czechoslovakia during World War II, cousins who died in concentration camps, the impact of the Holocaust, bombing, air raids in England, and emigrating to the United States. Talks about girlhood, school, university and her doctorate in clinical psychology. Mentions marriage, moving to New Zealand, two children. Talks about interest in feminism, joining National Organisation of Women (NOW), feminist literature on mental health. Mentions work as guidance counsellor and at the Wellington School of Medicine. Describes helping establish Hecate Women's Health Collective in 1979, and involvement in a television documentary on mental health that was critical of doctors. Mentions Hecate referring women to Levett for counselling, and mentions the Women's Resource Centre. Talks about friendship with Elizabeth Sewell, National Director of YWCA, who recruited feminists. Talks about tension between Sewell and YWCA's non-feminist lobby, and being a YWCA board member. Mentions collegues Faith Gibbons, Audrey Reynolds, Mary-Jane Rivers and Gail Powell. Describes self defence courses, sexual abuse discussions, board meetings. Comments on YWCA as a traditional organisation and feminists' impact on it. Mentions Hecate's closure by the end of the 1980s. Talks about decision to leave YWCA to work at Child and Family service, Hutt Valley Health and her private practice. Talks about feminism's impact on her children, and mentions adoption. Interviewer(s) - Jill Abigail Accompanying material - Project release form, biographical information, CV. Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-9070-9072 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2.20 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2875. Photocopy (coloured) mid shot of Vera Levett.

Date: 2000-2001 - 10 Feb 2000 - 02 Sep 2001

By: Abigail, Jill, 1939?-; Young Women's Christian Association of Wellington & Hutt Valley

Reference: OHColl-0590

Description: A feminist oral history of the Y.M.C.A. (Young Women's Christian Association) with reference to the Wellington branch, particularly during the 1970's and 1980's. Other - Copies also held at YWCA of Wellington and Hutt Valley Interviewer(s) - Jill Abigail Accompanying material - Interviewee files, a chronology of YWCA Wellington, photos with most interviews. Quantity: 20 C60 cassette(s). 2 printed abstract(s). 8 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete.

Date: 9 Jun 2003 - 09 Jun 2003

From: Women's Electoral Lobby oral history project: WEL women who made a difference

By: Glendining, Danna Mary, 1944-; Grant, Diane, active 1970-2003

Reference: OHInt-0733-02

Description: Venue - Masterton Interviewer(s) - Danna Glendining Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-012260 - OHC-012262 Tape numbers - OHLC-006695 - OHLC-006697 Copies are time coded Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2.25 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-4130. Two laser copies of photographs in abstract: colour photo of Diane Grant with Sonja Davies, January 2003; black and white photo of Diane Grant with Danna Glendining, 1983.

Date: 14 Sep 1988

From: NZOHA Electricity Centenary Oral History Project Stages I, II and III

By: Ellis, James Douglas, 1915-1997

Reference: OHInt-0003/24

Description: Doug Ellis describes family background; father's involvement with encouraging people in the Waikato to have electricity in 1920s and 1930s; childhood; views on the importance of religion; scheme introduced in Hutt Valley Electric Power Board (HVEPB) to provide staff with opportunities for self improvement; objections from Electric Supply Authorities Employers' Association; bringing in an industrial chaplain; bonus improvement scheme introduced as General Manager of HVEPB, 1976; strike in 1964 HVEPB; union negotiator, Tony Neary; difficulties in keeping good staff. Describes his views on ideal local body / power authorities structure; relationships between board and chief executive; recalls electricity shortages; some chairman of HVEPB, Ted Holdaway, Andy Ash and John Seddon; effect of national politics on boards in 1950s; use of natural gas for generating electricity; reference to ministers of electricity: Tom Shand, Percy Allen, Les Gandar, Tom McGuigan, Ronald Bailey, E S F Holland, George Gair; social role of supply authority; tarriffs. Discusses load factors of domestic versus commercial consumption; boards actively encouraging industrial development; importance of longterm planning; role involved with the establishment of board supply of gas; reference Percy Dowse, former Mayor of Lower Hutt; study into viability of distributing natural gas; hazards of changeover from coal gas; importance of public relations. Recalls work as Distribution Engineer, Wellington Municipal Electricity Department, 1947 - 1956; fire in tunnel carrying electical circuits from Jervois Quay Sub Station; demolishing concrete generator supports inside buildings; street lighting design; lighting pedestrian crossings properly; reference Reginald Maunder; work on overhead lines and their insulation; importance of design in underground cable work; move to underground cabling; service as officer with Second Division, NZEF in the Middle East, Italy in World War II; back to HVEPB as distribution engineer, 1956 - 1975; reference Hector McBain, I R Robinson, Mr Horn; power cuts in 1950s and public reaction. Describes purchase of new 33,000 volt cable; development of work on live wires; introduction of aluminium conductors; importance of good planning, good staff, good public relations; memberships of organisations; reference to Wahine storm, 1968; crisis of getting loan finance when General Manager, Hutt Valley Electric Power and Gas Board, 1975-1980; relationship with New Zealand Electricity Department; reference to Bruce McKenzie, Phil Blakeley, A E Davenport; feelings about retirement; consultancy work; investigations into amalgamations; future sources of energy in New Zealand. Access Contact - See oral history librarian Venue - Eastbourne Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe Venue - Mr Ellis' home at 8A Tui Road, Days Bay, Eastbourne, Wellington Accompanying material - Copy of retirement notice 'Kapuni promotor retires' from Dominion, 1980 (no month given); copy of retirement notice 'Having the last laugh' from Evening Post, 1980 (no day/month given); copy of 'Mr J D (Doug) Ellis General Manager retires after 24 years with the Board' from The Power & Gas Line, No. 26, April 1980; copy of minutes of last meeting attended by Doug Ellis at the Hutt Valley Electric Power and Gas Board, 26 March 1980; copy of curriculum vitae Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 285 AY=AB AR=285. Black and white photographs:-. Doug Ellis, 1988. Doug Ellis, 1941 Search dates: 1915 - 1988

Date: 24 Apr to 27 Sep 1991 - 24 Apr 1991 - 27 Sep 1991

From: New Zealand Medical Women's Association: Records

By: Wraith, Dorothea Mary, 1910-1993

Reference: OHInt-0019/06

Description: Dr Wraith describes childhood in Wellington and the Hutt Valley, education, desire to be a doctor, attendance at Newnham College, Cambridge, attitude to women medical students in the 1930s, work as a house surgeon in London hospitals during the Blitz (World War II), the development of her interest in child psychology, psychotherapy and psychiatry. Discusses the state of these disciplines in the 1940s. Recalls conscription into Indian Medical Service, work and conditions in India and Ceylon, further study in England in psychiatry after the war, work in Uganda, her interest in Jungian theory and psychodynamics, analytic training as a Jungian analyst, work in child guidance clinics, marriage and return to New Zealand and the Wellington Child Guidance Clinic. Discusses Jungian analysis, its use in New Zealand, and training seminars in psychodynamics that she has run. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Venue - Wellington Interviewer(s) - Neville Glasgow Venue - Dr Wraith's home at Eastbourne, Wellington Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004285 - OHC-004289 Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 4 interview(s). 4.04 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 689. Colour photograph of Dr Wraith, undated