Places

Date: 18 Sep 1985

From: Interviews about Rotorua by Don Stafford

By: Hammond, Percy Greville, 1906-1997

Reference: OHInt-0470/13

Description: Percy Hammond recorded this tape himself. Recalls early days of his life in Rotorua. Describes how travellers caught the steamer to Tauranga and the all-day coach to Rotorua. Mentions there was a rail terminus at Tirau (Oxford). Describes a private hotel, Arawa House, run by his grandparents in Rotorua with the help of his parents. Mentions his parents moved to a section near Whakarewarewa and his father worked as a printer on the `Chronicle'. Recalls anti Catholic and anti German (during World War I) feeling as a child. Describes his play and activities as a child. Describes his family's move from Rotorua to his grandfather's farm at Tauranga. Recalls that the family lived in a tent for two or three years and comments on the difficulty of this for his mother. Talks about the many trees, killing pigs and making bacon, wine making, the maize crop and vegetable gardening. Describes his work on the farm, including milking cows, while still attending school. Mentions he attended high school for six months only. Recalls the town of Tauranga. Describes his wife Molly and her attitude to animals. Interviewer(s) - Don Stafford Accompanying material - Information (five pages) about Percy Hammond's grandparents, David and Martha Griffiths, who arrived in New Zealand in 1881 and about their descendants Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-2861.

Date: 22 Jun 1991

From: Women writing for theatre in New Zealand in the 1980s

By: Farrell, Fiona Grace, 1947-

Reference: OHInt-0617/03

Description: Discusses writing as a child. Recalls her schooling in Oamaru, university in Dunedin and then in Toronto. Describes being overseas for eight years after marrying. Mentions directing plays in Canada, the influence of some Canadian playwrights, `hippy theatre' and a theatre renaissance in Canada as a result of government funding. Comments on the beginnings of feminism there. Recalls a job with a publisher to help redress the gender imbalance in literature. Describes juggling a job, a baby and a thesis. Describes her return to New Zealand in 1976 and becoming a drama teacher. Recalls working with Stanley Roche, author of `The red and the gold', and writing her play `Waihi 1912' based on it. Discusses Amy Bock and the play she wrote based on her life. Comments on the incidence of women posing as men to get more out of their lives. Mentions other plays she has written including `Bonds', `Passengers' and `Airwaves'. Talks about writing poetry, a radio script and television comedy for 'Away laughing'. Describes being made redundant and her realisation that nearly all the staff put off were female part-timers caring for children. Comments on this. Discusses the style of theatre she enjoys. Mentions Peter Schaffer. Comments on `Foreskin's lament'. Discusses the lack of production of plays written by women in Palmerston North. Interviewer(s) - Colleen Cleary Quantity: 1 C90 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s). 1.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-3432.

Date: 6 May 1999 - 06 May 1999

By: Martin, Maureen Ellen Patricia, 1923-1999

Reference: OHColl-0458/1

Description: Maureen Martin was born in Hawera in 1923. Gives details of her Irish background. Describes how her father worked for the Public Works Department on dams and tunnels throughout the North Island. Talks about the Mangahao Dam Public Works Camp where Maureen lived in early childhood. Notes that her father was working as a tunneller on the Tawa Deviation. Discusses his interest in politics and the effect on him of World War I. Focuses on her childhood in the Khandallah Public Works Camp from 1928 to 1940. Includes detailed information about their home, family, school, games, camp and social life. Comments on attitudes towards the camp. Discusses employment after leaving school, particularly her work at the Prestige Hosiery Factory in Wellington. Interviewer(s) - Pip Desmond Accompanying material - Transcript of an interview with Maureen Martin by her grandson Liam Martin about the 1951 watersiders strike Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-007157 - OHC-007159 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-1763. Photos of Maureen Martin from 1926 to 1943; photos of the Mangahao Dam public Works Camp and the Khandallah Public Works Camp in the 1920s

Date: May 2000

By: Wilton, Ida Helen, 1911-2000

Reference: OHInt-0495-1

Description: Ida Wilton was born in Kilbirnie in 1911. Describes the Scottish origins of her mother, Rachel Black, and the Irish origins of her father, Henry Morrah. Recalls visiting her grandparents who lived in a large wooden house on the corner of Aro and Willis Streets. Notes her grandfather was Inspector of the Bank of Australasia. Describes living in Tiringamutu, near Taumarunui, Petone and Ngaio. Discusses her family's health, alcohol, and a family trip by train to Auckland. Talks about her father's work at New Zealand Railways and her mother's dressmaking abilities. Recalls her parents' separation. Describes working for AMP insurance, joining the investment section and sitting and passing insurance exams. Recalls friends Joyce Thom, Nigel Tosswell and Jim Weir. Talks about marrying Keith Wilton at the beginning of World War II, finishing work, living in Khandallah and raising four children. Talks about the death of her child with Down's Syndrome. Recalls being in the nursing home about twelve days after having a baby and having help from a Karitane nurse. Describes housework and being at home with children. Comments on the pace of life these days. Recalls the drowning of a nephew in the Wahine disaster and its effect on the family. Talks about her husband's death. Mentions her own illness and her children. Quantity: 1 transcript(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-001846. Black and white photographs in transcript

Date: 23 Aug 1985

From: NZOHA Sunlight Centenarians Oral History Project

By: Foster, Elizabeth Grace, 1883-1985

Reference: OHInt-0004/10

Description: Talks about the Gibson family relatives, her childhood and details of her home life. Describes her mother's death when she was 14, her funeral and how the family coped. Talks about local identities, contact with Māori and the flooding of the Wairau River. Notes the location of a school at Gipsontown [Gibsontown?], near Kaituna, in the 1890s and describes her education. Recalls Blenheim dances and social and civic life. Describes her enjoyment of politics, politics in the 1930s and the importance of religion. Name of family, and town, recorded on interview documentation as "Gipson" and "Gipsontown". But it seems likely that the correct spelling is "Gibson" and "Gibsontown". Venue - Blenheim : 1985 Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson Venue - Isabel Bursill Home, Blenheim Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-001307; OHC-001308 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 172. Search dates: 1883 - 1985 Processing information: Spelling of name and town ammedned in June 2020 following advice from a researcher.

Date: 13 April 1989 - 13 Apr 1989

From: NZOHA Country Library Service Oral History Project

By: Maclean, Jean Elizabeth, 1925-1999

Reference: OHInt-0058/01

Description: Elizabeth MacLean describes her family background. Discusses the illness and death of her father. Details childhood on a remote sheep farm in Whakarau district; commenting on the power and water supply, neigbours, contact with Maori, hampers coming from Country Library Service, listening to the gramophone, and the strength of National Party support in the area. Details her parents' attitudes to smoking and alcohol and mentions religion. Describes her education by correspondence school, governesses and at Puha Primary School, Whakarau School and Nga Tawa Diocesan School in Marton. Talks about the various teachers, her dislike of school and comments on reading and sport. Describes her time as a land girl during World War II and gives details about uniforms and coupons. Talks about her Karitane Nurse training in Wanganui and mentions social life and salary. Details her working holiday to England, mentions Mothercraft Centre course and subsequent job as a domestic. Recalls her return to New Zealand, Karitane nursing and her decision to change to librarianship. Describes her early years at Gisborne Library and mentions certificate training and Helen Sullivan. Talks about moving to Christchurch to become a field officer (driver) for the Country Library Service. Talks about Miss Eve Franklin, the main driver and details Franklin's driving career with the service, her retirement and her Nelson home and library of `withdrawn books'. Mentions Allan Mercer and Jean Wright. Explains the Country Library Service layout in the Press Building and then later on the courner of Peterborough Street and Madras Street. Details the people that she worked with; Jean Wright, Allan Mercer, Courtney Shearer, Margaret Hall, Gordon Macarthur and Owen Simmance and mentions some of their work habits, interests and subsequent career moves. Describes her work as a junior librarian, learning to drive the van and her time delivering to schools in Christchurch. Recalls her first trip to French Pass and gives details about the organisation of itineraries and accommodation. Notes that the itinerary normally covered 3 1/2 - 4 months with a week in Christchurch between trips. Talks about preferring to sleep in the van, carrying water for ablutions and writing reports. Comments that women drivers tended to be more self-sufficent and stayed longer than men. Gives in-depth detail of the field librarians' daily routine, explaining the way the libraries were classified and the way books were delivered and despatched, the itineraries covered by the two or three vans that covered the South Island. Comments on the meals that local people supplied, pay rates for local librarians and the differences between attitudes of local councils. Describes looking after and living in the book van. Talks about the librarians she met and social contact in the more isolated communities. Describes lighthouse service and prison and mental health hospital visits. Details the differences made when the van size increased, her experiences travelling on back country roads and minor accidents. Comments on her enjoyment of the job and having to stop for health reasons. Describes becoming a library assistant in the Country Library Service in Christchurch, then co-ordinating librarian for co-operative book buying and a library advisor for National Library of New Zealand in Christchurch. Talks about G T Alley and other staff members. Comments on the end of the book van delivery service, her retirement and her interests and activities. Venue - Christchurch Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson Venue - Miss MacLean's home in Christchurch Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-002033, OHC-002034, OHC-002035 Tape numbers - NZOHA ClS 2596, 2597, 2598, 2599, 2658, 2659 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-0303. Search dates: 1925 - 1989

Date: 22 Jul-24 Oct 1985 - 22 Jul 1985 - 24 Oct 1985

From: Nelson and Golden Bay Oral History Project

By: Masters, Charles Reuben George, 1906-1989; Masters, Kathleen Mary, 1914-1986

Reference: OHInt-0053/16

Description: George Masters was born in Constable in Great Britain in 1906. Recalls his family's emigration to New Zealand in 1911 and settling in Nelson in 1915. Describes F.G. (Soss) Gibbs, headmaster of Nelson College for Boys. Comments on the youth activities of various churches and his family's social position in Nelson. After being a pupil teacher at Nelson Central School for Boys, he attended Teachers College in Christchurch and studied physical education at Dunedin Training College. Describes his student days. Recalls teaching at the Railways Public Works Camp at Gowan Bridge and the Resolution Bay Household School, Murchison and Collingwood. Describes his involvement in civil defence during World War II including taking Air Force cadets as he had an aviation licence. Talks about alternative lifestyle people and hippies in the Collingwood area other changes in the makeup of the population of Collingwood. Comments on sex education. Describes services to the community including work as an ambulance driver, member of the Education Board and Treasurer of the school committee. Kathleen Masters was born in Christchurch in 1915. Recalls her family background and childhood in Christchurch and the social pressures that she felt as a young woman there. Talks about being `finished off' at Rangiruru College. Describes the death of her first husband in Crete in 1940 and staying with her sister, Margaret Nicholson, who was married to the Collingwood vicar, Bob Nicholson. Talks about meeting and later marrying George Masters, employment with McNabb Motors and the Collingwood Dairy Factory, Collingwood and Rockville shops, married life, childbirth and child rearing, sewing and thrift, family finances, local entertainment and care of the elderly. Venue - Collingwood : 1985 Interviewer(s) - Rosie Little Venue - The Masters' home in Collingwood Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-003003; OHC-003004; OHC-003005; OHC-003006; OHC-003005; OHC-003008; OHC-003009; OHC-003010; OHC-003011; OHC-003012; OHC-003013; OHC-003014 Quantity: 12 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 580.

Date: 14 Dec 1988

From: The Matriarchs Oral History Project

By: Manoy, May Marie, 1913-1993

Reference: OHInt-0048/07

Description: May Manoy was born 7 December 1913. Discusses the family business in Motueka, A. Manoy and Son Drapery Store. Talks about her father, a successful merchant, his garden and the home she grew up in in Motueka. Describes her Polish and German heritage on her paternal side. Describes her mother May Newman, her education and death after childbirth. Discusses her memories of the Jewish community in the Motueka and Nelson area and her experience of being Jewish in small town New Zealand. Recalls her own interests as a child and family recreation. Discusses her father's second marriage to an artist from London, Mina Arndt, who took on the role of mother and also taught May art. Recalls Mina Arndt's death from influenza and their move to Karori. Talks about her education at Samuel Marsden School, her favourite teacher Nell Clere and her sex education. Talks about the birth of brother John and living with Mina's sister and brother-in-law Jenny and Philip Nathan. Discusses her love of music and classical education which included learning to dance with Estelle Beere and studying to be a singer with Mrs Gibb. Discusses her Karitane nursing training in depth and the Truby King home in Melrose. Discusses Plunket nurses and the types of milk used for babies. Talks about Karitane nursing in 1930-1931, her registered nursing training at Fulham Hospital in Charing Cross in England, nursing in England during the Blitz, serving in the British Liberation Army in the 108 British General Hospital in France and Brussells and being the sister in charge in the Queen Alexandria Nursing Service. Describes blackouts in Paris and London and travel experiences in Europe during the war. Talks about Karitane nursing in France. Describes returning to New Zealand on the troop ship `Athlone Castle' and her subsequent hospitalisation due to injury during the war. Venue - Wellington : 1988 Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe Venue - Wellington Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004129-OHC-004132 Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 Electronic document(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Transcript(s) available OHA-1631 and OHDL-000570.

Date: 14-10-1993 - 08-11-1993 - 25-11-1993 - 01-03-1994 - 14 Oct 1993 - 01 Mar 1994

From: Slices of lives oral history project

By: Cameron, Fiona, active 1993; Gandar, Monica Justine, 1919-2001

Reference: OHInt-0407-15

Description: Justine was born in Feilding. Interview outlines family background - Grandparents, Elizabeth Anne and Thomas Johns Smith came from Cornwall and lived at Tower Flat, Porirua before moving to the Manawatu area where they helped establish the settlement of Colyton, opening the first store and later starting a farm `Woodlands' in Spur Road. Describes own Victorian Methodist upbringing at `Fairfield' on the Ashurst Road. Reflects on her memories of the Napier earthquake in 1931; the polio epidemic; the excitement of electricity coming to Colyton in the 1920s; Mrs Culvert, headmistress of Colyton School, and the school house burning down; Dr Elizabeth Gunn, a talented teacher; the social set up that the Women's Institutes developed and the careers that were available for women. Attended Victoria University at the age of 17 and recalls the atmosphere in the lead up to World War II and the changes in New Zealand lifestyle. Describes the Victoria Debating Club. After university was governess to Edith Hannah, an orphaned heiress (Jane Campion's mother). Married Les Gandar, whom she met at university, and they had six children, one of whom suffered from Banty's Syndrome which she describes.. Backgrounds husband's entry into politics in 1966 and describes life as the wife of an MP, and later when he became High Commissioner to London (1979 to 1982). Talks about the many people she met with remarkable backgrounds including her meetings with Prince Charles and Diana Princess of Wales - Justine and Les attended the wedding of Charles and Diana. Awards/funding - Award in Oral History Abstracted by - Fiona Cameron Interviewer(s) - Fiona Cameron Recorded by - Fiona Cameron Venue - RD 5 Moorlands, Waiata Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-006834-006838 Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 5 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-1586 and OHA-1586a (Additional material). 1 photograph Search dates: 1919 - 1993

Date: 2 - 3 Aug 1997 - 02 Aug 1997 - 03 Aug 1997

By: Foley, Jacqueline, 1951-; Brosnahan, Mary Josephine, 1915-1998; Brosnahan, Desmond Francis, 1941-

Reference: OHInt-0410-01

Description: Describes her childhood as the eldest of nine children growing up on her parents' farm, in the Cave, Cannington area and time spent living with her Aunty Jean who owned the `Excelsior Hotel' in Timaru. Mentions schooling at Teschemakers and working on the family farm for ten years, including the Depression years. Talks about looking after the younger children, housework, farm work, social events, particularly dances, and a family holiday. Describes going to Wellington for 3 months where she worked as a housemaid-waitress at Eastbourne and coming back engaged to Peter, a South Canterbury boy she had known for years. After her marriage in 1940 she had son Desmond (1941) before Peter was called up and spent two and a half years during World War 2 in the Islands (New Caledonia). He returned after the death of a newborn baby. He was a farm manager at Four Peaks before successfully balloting for land at Peel Forest where they farmed for twenty years. Talks about Peter's death at the age of 58, their children growing up, Catholicism, her move to Timaru after Peter's death and living with her daughter ahd husband. Abstracted by - Jacqueline Foley Sponsored by - Desmond Brosnahan Interviewer(s) - Jacqueline Foley Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-006849-006852; OHLC-004167-004170 Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3.24 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-1597. Search dates: 1915 - 1997

Date: 9-10 May 1997

By: O'Regan, Catherine Lily, 1914-2002

Reference: OHColl-0465/1

Description: Catherine O'Regan was born in Wellington on 6 Apr 1914. Gives details of her family background including Irish ancestry on her mother's side. Recalls visiting her grandmother on the West Coast. Describes growing up in Island Bay with her mother, father and stepbrothers and stepsister. Describes her father's work building bridges. Recalls attending primary school at St Madeleine Sophie. Describes in detail attending Sacre Coeur (later Erskine College) where she was a boarder. Discusses attitudes towards Catholicism. Talks about working at Land and Income Tax and doing most of a Bachelor of Commerce at Victoria University before training to become a teacher. Discusses social life and entertainment including going to the pictures and balls. Describes meeting Barry O'Regan, their courtship and wedding. Recalls the Depression and World War II. Describes the birth of her children, their childhood and education. Discusses Barry O'Regan's partnership in the law firm Bell O'Regan and Dunphy and his becoming a High Court judge. Talks about her daughter Mary O'Regan and sister in law Pauline O'Regan, who is a nun. Comments on becoming Lady O'Regan. Describes nursing her husband. Interviewer(s) - Mary Varnham Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-007166 - OHC-007170 Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-1766. Photograph of Cassie O'Regan on front of abstract