Interview with Bill Waiwai

Bill Waiwai talks about origins of names; ancestors; some of his ancestors' history; reference to Waikaremoana; Waikato Land Wars; Horako; Ruatahuna; Te Kooti; grandfather, Enoka; Te Wiremu Ngahere of Ngati Manawa; Tengaroahiahi Tanaroa; father, Unuhia Ngahere; Murupara; the Tuhoe Tribes; Kahungungu; canoe Horouta.

Describes family background; mother, Tengaroahiahi Tanaroa; father, Haami Enoka Waiwai; Maori language; seasonal work parents engaged upon; discipline; early memories of the building of Tuai Hydro Station; religion, Ringatu Church; contact with Pakeha; school at Kokako Native School; punishment for speaking Maori as school; cadet training; music; Tuhoe traditions, tribal folklore, Mataatua Canoe.

Recalls first job at Cobb Power Scheme, Takaka, 1938; the hotels; details of sandblasting work; as linesman on Zig Zag Transmission Line, details of clearing bush between Canvastown and Nelson; work on an oil tanker for eight months to Santiago, South America; service for the Maori Battalion, 2nd NZEF during World War II in Middle East and Italy.

Recalls working as labourer at the construction of the Kaitawa Hydro Station; overseer, Laurie Stevenson; training as a diver (problems with leaks at lake outlet); work at Kaituna Hydro Scheme; rigger / labourer at Mangakino, Waikato River Projects, 1949-1961; type of work as a rigger; describes Mangakino Camp; sly grogging at camp; gambling; reference to fights between Maori, Polynesians, Pakeha; headed Maori Wardens' Association in district, describes roles; politics on the marae; food at the camp; racial discrimination between Maori and Pakeha in relation to alcohol, Lodges.

Discusses use of historic Maori land for hydro schemes; conflict over tangi leave; burial grounds under water; reference to construction superintendents, Bob Brown and Colin Lennon; engineers, Jim Macky and Colin McLeod; marriage; sport, especially golf; work as overseer at Matahina Hydro Project, 1960s; the dangers of tunnelling; reference to Bill Robins, Construction Superintendent, Jack Chesterman and Allan Howarth; work as overseer at Tongariro (Geothermal) Power Scheme; details of canals dug into Lake Rotoaira; environmental concerns about the scheme.

Gives summary of career; discusses lack of Maori in senior positions; lack of opportunities given; work as overseer at New Plymouth Thermal Power Station; engineers and practical information and experience; work as Construction Superintendent at Ohaaki Geothermal Power Station, 1983-1988; the delegation of authority; hiring and firing; as active member of New Zealand Workers' Union (before going onto staff); reasons for early retirement.

Access Contact - oral history librarian

Venue - Cambridge

Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson

Venue - Mr Waiwai's home at 85 Thompson Street, Cambridge

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-001870 - OHC-001873

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 291.

Search dates: 1924 - 1988

Processing information: Access conditions updated 16 November 2023.

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-002818 - OHLC-002820, OHLC-002901 - OHLC-002903, OHLC-001928 - OHLC-001930

An online copy of the abstract is also available to read in the Library's Reading Room.