Recreation areas

Date: 2-27 Apr 2009 - 5 May 2009 - 02 Apr 2009 - 05 May 2009

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

By: Chalmers, Barry Lionel, 1950-2009

Reference: OHInt-0857-07

Description: Interview with Barry Chalmers, born in Bluff in 1950. Talks about his family background, being the youngest of eleven children, his birth mother dying when he was very young, and being brought up by an uncle and aunt who interested him in tramping, nature study and environmental activism. Talks about working for stock and station agents Donald Reid Ltd for three years after he left school, then as a bar manager, a labourer with a landscape gardening company, and as a groundsman at Lincoln College. Talks about deciding to become a landscape gardener, completing a Diploma in Horticulture at Lincoln College and then the new Diploma of Landscape Technology course. Discusses the course content and teachers, and compares it with the Landscape Architecture course. Describes his career in local government 1975-1998, in parks and recreation departments in Dunedin, Whakatane and Wellington Region. Comments that he worked in management from the mid 1980s and saw the need to establish landscape principles at a political and senior management level. Reflects on the relationship between parks and recreation and landscape, early parks people having trained at Kew, and the increasing use of New Zealand native plants in landscape design. Talks about working in Whakatane 1983-1986 where the practice of landscape architecture was new and having difficulty getting his design ideas implemented. Comments that under the Reserves Act 1977 management plans were required for all parks and reserves but councils were reluctant. Discusses his position with the Wellington Regional Council where he set up and managed the Recreation Department and implemented the strategic plan for the regional parks network. Comments on the different types of landscape in each park as well as their histories and their uses including recreation, farming, forestry and water collection. Mentions land acquisitions, and refers to conflicts between the local and regional councils over recreational land. Refers to having to educate councillors about the landscape approach to managing regional parks. Comments on parks being considered discretionary in difficult economic times and having to use volunteers. Discusses introducing park rangers, and establishing "Friends of" to get community involvement. Talks about the development of the summer treks programme to promote the regional parks, developing picnic areas and simple structures, and protecting heritage structures and sites. Refers to leaving the Regional Council in 1998, setting up a consultancy and working with councils in the lower North Island on parks and reserves strategies. Mentions the conflict between developing amenities and retaining natural character and the need to involve the community, citing Te Raekaihau Point on Wellington's south coast as an example. Reflects on the need for a new approach to open space and built environment management, and comments that he regards landscape as infrastructure. Accompanying material - Abstracts accompanied by two appendices: Citation from the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (2006); Citation from the New Zealand Recreation Association for outstanding contribution award to parks and open spaces (2007) Interviewer(s) - Shona McCahon Quantity: 1 digital sound recording(s). 5 Electronic document(s) (abstract, appendices, form). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 digital photograph(s) (Jpeg file). 1 interview(s) over 8 days. 8.12 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHDL-001330, OHA-7353. Search dates: 1950 - 2009

Date: 1975 - 1998 - 1984

From: [Ephemera of quarto size relating to parks, environmental reserves and recreational areas]

Reference: Eph-B-PARKS-1970/1999

Description: Includes: 1975: Lincoln College. Rangers 1. [Course booklet]. Printed by Lincoln College Press, 1975. 1976: Lincoln College. Rangers 2. [Course booklet]. Printed by Lincoln College Press, 1976. State Services Commission of New Zealand. National and maritime parks and reserves: National park ranger; Reserves ranger; Maritime park ranger [vocational guidance / prospectus pamphlet]. 1976 1979: N.Z. Institute of Park and Recreation Administration. Conference [Hamilton] 16-19 September 1979. Programme and registration information 1980: Bill puts National Parks in jeopardy. The threat - ministerial takeover; National Development Act by the back door? What people are saying about this bill [Flyer. 1980] (2 copies) 1981: NZ Department of Lands & Survey. National parks of New Zealand [Pamphlet]. 1981 1984: National Parks centennial 1987. [Propective booklet. 1984] 1998: Department of Conservation. Managing recreation on Conservation land - Structures. Fact sheets 2-6 of a series of 6. January 1998. Mainly subdivided by region alphabetically Related material may be housed at subject locations: TOURISM (subdivided by place), WALKS (subdivided by place) Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Fliers and booklets, sizes varying up to 230 mm. Provenance: Acquired from various sources

Date: 10 Jan 2005 - 25 Aug 2008 - 10 Jan 2005 - 25 Aug 2008

Reference: OHColl-1192

Description: Interviews with 19 rangers employed by the Lands and Survey Department who discuss their careers working in New Zealand national parks and land district reserves that encompass historical and cultural sites as well as natural areas. They discuss training, such as climbing and hunting; equipment and transport; accommodation and duties that include: checking tracks, hut building and maintenance, pest and weed control, ski patrolling, developing and maintaining picnic areas, staffing visitor and resource centres. They mention bush searches, accidents, fatalities and body recovery. Interviewees discuss promotion, head office work, relieving rangers, the NZ Rangers Association, overseas projects, and the changing role of the ranger. They also comment on working with other groups and organisations. Parks and districts mentioned: Abel Tasman National Park, Arthurs Pass National Park, Egmont National Park, Fiordland National Park, Mt Aspiring National Park, Mt Cook National Park, Nelson Lakes National Park, Tongariro National Park, Urewera National Park, Westland National Park, Auckland Land District, Waikatao Land District Reserves, Hawkes Bay Land District, Wellington Land District, Nelson/Marlborough Land District, Canterbury Land District, Otago Land District Reserves, Southland Land District Reserves. The interviewees are: Donald Bell, Phil Boswell, Lionel Brock, Lee Busby, Ray Cleland, Hector Crene, Peter Croft, Alex Dobbins, John Gardiner, Paddy Gordon, Kay Holder, Lisle Irwin, Dave Mazey, Len McConnell, Philip McDonald, Rex Mossman, Barrie Thomas, Barbara Thompson, Alf Ure. Sponsored by - National Parks and Reserves Rangers Oral History Committee Interviewer(s) - Rex Mossman, Geoff Rennison, Wallace Sander Accompanying material - Spiral bound typescript 'NZ National Parks and Reserves Rangers' Archive : an unedited collection of written and taped memoirs from rangers between 1952 and 1987' Arrangement: Original recordings: OHC-025113 - OHC-025146 Abstracts: OHA-8325 - OHA-8343 Quantity: 34 C60 cassette(s). 19 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete for 17 interviews Abstract Available - no abstract(s) available for interviews with Ray Cleland and Dave Mazey. Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Pat Sheridan for NZ National Parks and Reserves Rangers Search dates: 1952 - 1987