Interview with Sir Paul Reeves

Sir Paul Reeves was born in Wellington in 1932. Mentions the friendship of his grandparents with the Freyberg family and his uncle Alfred Reeves being in the Maori Pioneer Battalion in World War I. Talks about his Maori maternal grandmother Roka Te Hei Marama and the links kept with Waikawa marae, Taranaki. Recalls racism at school, dealing with his Maori background and his mother's attitude. Discusses the effects of the world wars on his father and brother. Describes how his father did shift work on the tramways in Wellington. Recalls the family's Newtown home and neighbours. Describes the family's support of the Labour Party. Comments on returning to Newtown as Governor-General. Recalls going to church with his grandmother and the importance in his life of St Thomas' Church in Newtown. Gives details of his education at South Wellington School and Wellington College. Mentions his feelings of class awareness and the difficulty of being Maori at Wellington College.

Describes attending Victoria University of Wellington and its socialist, radical tradition at Victoria. Recalls J C Beaglehole, Ian Gordon, James Bertram, James K Baxter, Anton Vogt and Louis Johnson. Gives details leading to his going to St Johns College, the training there and going to the Tokoroa parish. Mentions applying for and getting the Sir Apirana Ngata Memorial Scholarhip and marrying Beverley Watkins before going to Oxford, England on the scholarship. Describes life as a student there, being ordained at Christchurch Cathedral in Oxford and being in parishes in Lowestoft and London. Recalls returning to New Zealand and a parish at Okato, Taranaki in 1964. Comments on the growing Maori consciousness in New Zealand. Describes teaching at St Johns in 1966, becoming Director of Christian Education and being elected Bishop of Waiapu in 1971. Comments on his relationship with the clergy. Discusses involvement in the Citizens for Rowling campaign and the response to his political stance. Discusses the nature of poverty. Gives a background to his appointment as Archbishop. Discusses his attitude to the Springbok Tour. Recalls his decision to go on the 1984 hikoi to Waitangi and the role of Governor General Sir David Beattie.

Describes the unexpectedness of being offered the position of Governor-General. Comments on the Maori perspective and awkward situations which arose during his term. Mentions lessons in Maori from Huirangi Waikerepuru. Comments on divisions within New Zealand society and his desire to help bridge them as Governor-General. Recalls his relationship with Sir Robert Muldoon. Describes travelling widely, trying to attend Maori events and preparing speeches with relevance. Mentions Cindy Beavis. Mentions open days and Maori staying at Government House. Discusses Government House staff including Paul Canham, Official Secretary and Norm Richardson, the Comptroller.

Recalls meetings of the Executive Council and the gradual lack of cohesion of David Lange's Labour government. Discusses assistance from Solicitor General John McGrath. Comments on Michael Bassett, Richard Prebble and Roger Douglas and the inability of David Lange to stop the development of a market driven free-fall economy. Mentions reaction to an article he wrote in the `Listener' on the economy. Mentions other incidents including trouble from the Malaysian government after comments about Lorraine and Aaron Cohen and the pig-killing ritual in Vanuatu. Talks about discussions with Sir Tipene O'Regan, Georgina Kirby and Sir James Henare. Discusses the Treaty of Waitangi and claims.

Gives his impressions of visiting the Queen and encouraging her involvement in the 1990 Treaty celebrations. Comments on his agenda and aims as Governor-General and on earlier Governors-General. Mentions his work in New York on leaving Government House. Comments on the Church as an institution and the trend towards it being conservative, charismatic and evangelical.

Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson

Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3.30 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3406.

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-005020 - OHLC-005023