Places

Date: 27 Sep 1988

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

By: Duncan, William Munro, 1923-2008

Reference: OHInt-0003/23

Description: Bill Duncan recalls family background; childhood; education, engineering intermediate at Victoria University College; work in blueprint room as temporary cadet for Public Works Department, working conditions, Miss Kitty O'Neill, first impression of Bob Semple; reference C W O Turner, R G Caigou, George Lowe, Jack Bruce, J B Rowntree; processes of tracing designs; reference to engineering degree course at Canterbury University during World War II; practical work at Lowes Foundry, Hutt Valley. Recalls effect of manpower direction on students; on graduation directed to Public Works Department and designed roads, bridges, tunnels, water supply schemes; construction of Wellington Water Supply Scheme, tunnellers, accidents; salary as a cadet; engineering travelling scholarship to United Kingdom, 1948 - 1949, worked on two coal fired power station sites in Manchester and Braehead; discusses new ideas developed by Britain in steel construction; rationing. Discusses bridge design in 1950; emergence of pre-stressed concrete; risk taking by Public Works Department in innovative construction of hydro works ie diversion culverts and penstocks at Benmore; problems with Matahina Power Scheme; advice sought from Department from other sources; work as senior engineer working on the enlargement of the Homer Tunnel, deaths on construction of tunnel early in 1930s; avalanches; work as senior engineer at Roxburgh Power Station 1954, effect of using contractors; overseas contractors' problems with New Zealand industrial situation; role in dealing with contractors; issue of progress versus quality; power shortages in South Island; describes works camp; reference Hugh Watt, Minister of Works; details of facilities from Roxburgh transferred to Benmore; relationship between head office and sites; social life on sites. Recalls working on motorway construction in Auckland as District Engineer; problems of acquiring land for motorways; differences in road building compared to 1940s; geometrics for complicated interchanges; reference to Auckland Airport and big secondary school building program; role as Chief Design Engineer, Wellington 1964 - 1970; power planning procedures; shortage of qualified staff; departmental management; environmental issues especially Manapouri, Aratiatia, Tongariro; tentative plans for nuclear power. Describes becoming Assistant Commissioner of Works in 1970s; involvement in contract dispute work; problems emerging (environmental and Maori resource issues) as member of Water Resources Council; mention of the Commission on Energy Development; George Gair, Minister of Energy; became first Secretary of Energy Ministry; setting up of Ministry; oil crisis issue; public discussion of document, 'Goals and Guidelines'; reference to 'Think big' projects; plans for Maui gas; self-sufficiency touted; greenhouse effect as an issue. Access Contact - See oral history librarian Venue - Upper Hutt Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson Venue - Mr Duncan's home at 32B Whitemans Road, Silverstream, Upper Hutt Accompanying material - Copy of curriculum vitae; copy of 'Retired energy chief prefers sleeves-up role' from Evening Post, 14 March 1983; copy of 'Personal' column from New Zealand Engineering, Vol 33, No 4, April 1978; Copy of article 'Bill puts the icing on the energy cake: Public Sector interviews the Secretary of Energy, Bill Duncan', from Public Sector, Autumn 1979, pp 3-6. Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-001850 - OHC-001852 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 284. Black and white photographs:-. Bill Duncan, 1988. Bill Duncan, ca 1977. Bill Duncan, 1944 Search dates: 1923 - 1988

Date: 1981

From: Lynch, James Robert, 1947- :[Digital scans of cartoons published in the New Plymouth Daily News and the New Zealand Times]

By: Taranaki daily news (Newspaper)

Reference: DCDL-0022099

Description: Shows Bill Birch, Minister of Energy, on the phone. He asks the person he is calling if he is still interested in his scheme to build a methane plant on his chicken run. Context: National's "think big" policy was starting to meet problems as one scheme after another struck problems. Context note by cartoonist) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 1982

From: Lynch, James Robert, 1947- :[Digital scans of cartoons published in the New Plymouth Daily News and the New Zealand Times]

By: Taranaki daily news (Newspaper)

Reference: DCDL-0022118

Description: Shows Energy Minister Bill Birch as chief of 'Birch Construction'. Workers manoeuvre great blocks representing various 'Think Big' projects but 'Fletcher' and 'CSR' are having difficulty shifting a block named 'Aramoana' which has split. Context: The Government's "Think Big" projects were all having difficulties to varying degrees. The aluminium smelter at Aramoana in Dunedin was scuttled by protesters. (Context note by cartoonist) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2012

From: Clark, Laurence, 1949- :Digital cartoons

By: Northern advocate (Newspaper)

Reference: DCDL-0023413

Description: Two fishermen discuss deep water drilling in the Reinga Basin, stating that they'll need to drill 'even deeper as global warming makes the sea level rise'. Refers to the decision to open the Reinga Basin in Northland to offshore drilling, despite the environmental risks. The government hopes it will create jobs in the region. (Northern Advocate, 9 Nov 2012) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2012

From: Nisbet, Alastair, 1958- :Digital cartoons

By: Press (Christchurch, N.Z.)

Reference: DCDL-0020662

Description: A phalanx of 'Power Company CEOs' shores up enormous piles of banknotes rather like a dam shoring up water. Context: A report shows the best-paid chief executives were from state-owned energy companies. Mighty River Power, Solid Energy, Meridian Energy and Genesis Power all paid their chief executives more than $1 million. Big rises took their deals to more than $5.5 million combined. (ODT 27 March 2012) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2004

From: Walker, Malcolm, 1950- :Digital cartoons

Reference: DCDL-0009479

Description: Shows an man representing Meridian Energy standing in the Waitaki River and holding an electric cord. The man is being electrocuted. Refers to Meridian cancelling Project Aqua, a controversial power scheme for six dams and a man-made canal on the Lower Waitaki River in North Otago. See DCDL-0009478 for colour version. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2005

From: Hawkey, Allan Charles, 1941- :[Digital cartoons published in the Waikato Times].

Reference: DCDL-0000247

Description: A man slumbers deeply in his bed. Surrounding the bed are a whole lot of protest signs about the Waahi Whanui Trust's opposition to Genesis Energy's new power project at Huntly. They include a sign that says 'But not at 4 o'clock in the morning.' Refers to the failure of the protest because the trucks that they intended to protest against arrived so early in the morning that the protesters were still in bed. Other Titles - Block the Tainui Bridge. Halt in the name of Waahi Whanui. But not at 4 o'clock in the morning. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2004

From: Walker, Malcolm, 1950- :Digital cartoons

Reference: DCDL-0009478

Description: Shows an man representing Meridian Energy standing in the Waitaki River and holding an electric cord. The man is being electrocuted. Refers to Meridian cancelling Project Aqua, a controversial power scheme for six dams and a man-made canal on the Lower Waitaki River in North Otago. See DCDL-0009479 for black and white version. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).