Places

Date: 15-16 Jun 2009 - 15 Jun 2009 - 16 Jun 2009

From: The founding of landscape architecture in New Zealand oral history project

By: Scheltus, Hermanus Willem, 1951-

Reference: OHInt-0857-10

Description: Interview with Herwi (Hermanus Willem) Scheltus, born in Napier in 1951. Talks about his father having been born in China, educated in Holland, and managed a tea plantation in Indonesia. Comments that his parents met and married in Indonesia, spent the war in Japanese concentration camps, and never talked to their children about their experiences. Talks about his parents coming to New Zealand from Holland as sponsored immigrants after the war, speaking Dutch at home when he was a child and not knowing much English when he started school. Refers to his parents buying a small farm near Tauranga after a few years, having poultry, and living very simply. Outlines his schooling, being rebellious, and not having a sense of nationality. Talks about studying horticulture at Massey University and starting a nursery on his parent's property. Comments on going to California State University, Pomona, for a postgraduate landscape architecture course but finding the culture change too much, dropping out and travelling in Canada, the United States and Europe. Discusses studying landscape architecture at Lincoln College, and finding that the course was largely focused on urban parks rather than designing with nature. Describes joining the Department of Lands and Survey in 1979 as a landscape architect based in Taupo to work with engineers from the Electricity Department and Ministry of Works on power projects in the central North Island. Comments on efforts to try to minimise the impacts of engineering works on the environment such as finding a way to handle tunnel spoil that was acceptable to the engineers and had a low environmental impact. Refers to the Lands and Survey native plant nursery and sourcing seeds locally. Talks about his investigations on revegetation in the harsh environment, learning to mimic nature, and having to gain the confidence of a succession of engineers. Comments on work to improve rooting of nursery-reared plants when they were planted out in the harsh environment. Refers to the importance of maintenance and weed control in revegetation projects, but the electricity projects not having a budget for continuing this work after construction ceased. Talks about the land development section of Lands and Survey which developed marginal land into farm settlement blocks, and doing site planning and house design to improve outcomes. Refers to retaining some vegetation for shelter and erosion control, and being involved with the Woodstock Farm Forest project. Comments on giving advice on the conversion of a central North Island pine forest to pastoral land, and the revegetation of Tiritiri Matangi Island to convert it to an island sanctuary. Discusses the roles of Robin Gay and Boyden Evans at Lands and Survey Head Office in instigating landscaping and revegetation projects. Talks about being assigned to the Department of Conservation (DOC) when Lands and Survey was abolished in the 1987 restructuing of government departments. Mentions being based in Taupo in a national role, controversy over a mining project in the Coromandel, and the new Landcorp not wanting any landscape input in their land development projects. Discusses various projects he has worked on including road and rail realignments in national parks, explaining his aim is to reduce impacts rather than stop projects, and that urban designs and engineering practices can be inappropriate in national parks. Describes his role in overseeing upgrades to the skifield facilities at Ruapehu and being "hassled" by colleagues who did not want any skifields in a national park. Describes filming for 'Lord of the Rings' in Tongariro National Park, ministerial pressure to allow it to go ahead, and convincing the film makers to accept working within the Park management plan. Describes some of the creative solutions found to minimise environmental impacts of the filming. Refers to management plans for DOC land now requiring consultation with Maori, the time it has taken to build relationships, and some uncomfortable encounters on marae. Talks about his positive experiences working with iwi on the Tongariro National Park world heritage committee as well as with Ngai Tahi and others. Reflects on being the last landscape architect in DOC, current landscape architecture students not being taught "the basics", and the Resource Management Act having affected the profession both positively and negatively as landscape assessments are often what the client wants rather than what is best for the land. Reflects on why he settled in Taupo, his work in the Farm Forestry Association, and his admiration of Gordon Stephenson. Interviewer(s) - Shona McCahon Quantity: 1 digital sound recording(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Electronic document(s) (abstract, form). 2 digital photograph(s) (Jpeg files). 1 interview(s) over 2 days. 7 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHDL-001336, OHA-7356. Search dates: 1951 - 2009

Date: 29 May 2009

From: MAF Biosecurity New Zealand oral history project

By: Calje, Aarnoud, 1935-

Reference: OHInt-0975-07

Description: Interview with Aarnoud Calje, born in Biggekerke, Zeeland, Holland in 1935. Talks about growing up on a small farm, the German occupation during World War II, Allied bombing of the dykes, and the family being moved to a bigger farm after the War. Describes flying to New Zealand with his bride in 1959 as assisted immigrants and working on farms in Canterbury and Westland. Discusses getting a job as a Port Agriculture Officer in Christchurch in 1966, the buddy training system, being given the manual to read, and training courses. Refers to inspecting ships once they had docked, sealing their meat lockers, and being alert for insect pests associated with residues from previous cargos in holds. Mentions checking ship pets daily to ensure they were still on board. Describes scanning ships' manifests looking for unclear items, and checking sea cargo in the Lyttelton wharf shed or the railway goods shed. Talks about the fumigation centre in Rolleston, and sometimes having to fumigate holds if dunnage was infested. Refers to receiving training at the laboratory in Levin where they sent plants and insects for identification. Comments on working in the mail centre checking incoming mail, visiting seed stores and farms to check export seeds, potatoes and onions, and checking incoming household effects as they were unpacked. Describes the rostered hours at the airport, overtime worked when meeting late night and military flights, and their duties spraying aircraft, processing passengers and supervising garbage disposal. Comments on changes in aircraft disinfection methods over the years, and the introduction of x-ray checking and sniffer dogs. Mentions the treatment of VIPs, and his being able to help Dutch people coming through the airport. Mentions that staff are no longer allowed on foreign military aircraft and have to trust the crews to spray aircraft and handle garbage. Talks about the increase in air cargo over the years and horses being flown in and out. Mentions the horses would be checked by a vet while Agriculture checked food, manure and medicines. Comments on checking for TB in cattle going between North and South Islands. Comments that staff are now more specialised than when he started in the service and he now works largely at the airport. Describes the uniforms he has worn and changes in them over the years. Refers to the adjustments when women were first employed in the Service in the 1970s. Reflects that the restructuring of MAF (Ministry of Agriculture) has not changed the job dramatically but computerisation and charging for services has changed things. Mentions creating an online system for processing car identification numbers for imported cars. Reflects on the use of "biosecurity" instead of "quarantine" in the service's name. Discusses senior staff during his career, including Superintendent Julian Brown, District Port Agriculture Officer Charlie Cooper and Assistant Superintendent Don Possin. Interviewer(s) - Megan Hutching Accompanying material - Copy of QuarantineWorks, April 2005 (a staff newsletter) containing an article about Aarnoud Calje; colour photocopy of a map of Zeeland; photocopies of: letter informing Aarnoud that he had been appointed as a Port Agriculture Officer (2 Mar 1966); certificate giving him permission to issue phytosanitary certificates; letter notifying him that he had been appointed to permanent staff (14 Dec 1967); letter stating he had passed the theory and practical tests for fumigation with methyl bromide (20 Mar 1968); note stating he was authorised to carry out fumigation (4 Apr 1968); his Fumigation Operator's Certificate (1 Mar 1975); letter from the Director-General entitled "Rostering of Male and Female Port Officers on Night Duties"; letter from Professor Don Bevan to the Director praising the help, courtesy and excellent service provided by Aaround Calje when he passed through Christchurch Airport (dated 3 Jan 1986). Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHDL-002002 Quantity: 1 digital sound recording(s) digital sound recording(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2 electronic scan(s) of original black and white photographic print(s). 1 interview(s). 2.20 Hours and minutes Duration. Physical Description: Textual files - Microsoft word Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-7302. Scanned black and white photographs of: Aamoud Calje in uniform in airport arrival hall (late 1960s); Aamoud Calje and Trevor Clark in the fumigation station, Woolston, Christchurch (1960s) Search dates: 1935 - 2009

Date: Mar-Apr 1997

By: Huygens, Ingrid, active 1997; Huygens-Prins, Mathilde Sophie Maria, 1921-2009

Reference: OHColl-0665/1

Description: Mathilde Huygens-Prins tells the story of her and her husband's lives in Holland and after their emigration to New Zealand in 1951. Recalls her childhood during the Depression and family life in Holland during World War II. Comments on the mood in post-war Europe. Talks about her husband, Cornelis Huygens, who grew up in Amsterdam. Describes how he was a forced worker in Germany during Allied bombing and later translated German documents for the American army. Describes their courtship and decision to migrate to New Zealand. Discusses arriving in New Zealand and the many changes from living in Europe. Recalls living in Auckland, Te Teko and Whakatane in the 1950s. Mentions some prejudice towards foreigners. Describes the family's move to Nelson and growing grapes there. Interviewer(s) - Ingrid Huygens Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 1 folder(s). 1 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - no abstract(s) available Some notes in OHA-3861.

Date: 2009

By: Endt family

Reference: MS-Papers-11623

Description: Folder comprises a typescript copy of `A new life in New Zealand - a challenge to succeed, 1951-1962' written by Dick Endt. This document includes a transcription (and translation from Dutch to English) by Dick Endt of a letter from his father Jan Willem Endt to Dick and his brother Kees Endt on 9 Feb 1951. Letter relates to a train journey from Auckland to Wellsford. Also included is a brief biography with a scanned photograph of Jan Willem Endt. Source of title - Supplied by Library Endt family emigrated from Holland to New Zealand in 1950. Quantity: 1 folder(s). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Typescript & printed matter Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Donated by Mr D Endt, Auckland, May 2013 Transfers: Collection as a whole taken into the Manuscripts Section, transfers made from there. - To Book Collections - `A new life in New Zealand - early impressions in the old adobe house on Parker Rd, Oratia' by Dick Endt.

Date: 2002

Reference: Eph-A-MUSIC-2002-01

Description: A programme and flier for this concert. The members of the choir are listed on the back page. Quantity: 1 b&w photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Photocopy on folded sheet, 210 x 148 mm.