Ōkukari Bay

Date: 20 Oct 2006

From: Oral history of Cook Strait Whalers based in Tory Channel

By: Davis, Nolan Donaldson, 1934-

Reference: OHInt-0856-03

Description: Interview with Noel (Nolan) Davis, born in Hastings in 1934. Mentions his mother died when he was five, and the family had a difficult time during World War 2. Talks about working as a shepherd after he left school, then going on a working holiday on a motorbike in the South Island during the summer of 1953-1954. Mentions taking various jobs before he got a job at Joe Perano's whaling station factory in 1956 through personal contacts and his freezing works butchery skills. Refers to working there for five seasons and then doing one season at Great Barrier Island. Mentions cows in calf and a protected right whale being caught. Comments that the whale meat was discarded until a meat plant was established in 1957. Talks about the work he did as a flenser as well as night shifts filling the Kvernar pressure digester with blubber. Mentions accidents at the factory and hazards such as the slippery flensing floor, and bomb shrapnel and an unexploded bomb in blubber. Discusses catching sharks that were attracted into the bay by dumped offal and calves. Reflects on the very long hours worked during the whaling season and not getting home often to see his wife and children. Talks about living conditions and the social life at the whaling station. Refers to working on a farm at Okukari Bay between seasons. Discusses recreational activities in the area including the Arapawa Rowing Club and early water skiing. Comments on moving to Picton, working in the freezing works, and later buying orchards, then a deer farm and finally a native plant nursery, as well as working as a builder. Interviewer(s) - Loreen Brehaut Accompanying material - Digital abstract accompanied by a brief biographical document Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-015996 - OHC-015997 Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 2 C90 cassette(s). 2 Electronic document(s) - abstract. 1 digital photograph(s). 1 interview(s). 1.32 Hours and minutes Duration. Physical Description: Textual file - Microsoft word; Image file - Jpeg Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5767, OHDL-001391. Includes colour portrait (OHDL-001392) Search dates: 1934 - 2006