Audio Feature Library

Fred Dagg's version of the Christmas Carol Three Kings
'Fred Dagg's Carol' - an extract from the 1990 musical programme "Kiwi Christmas", presented by Max Cryer. (duration: 0′44″)
King Tawhiao
Raureti Te Huia recalls the passing of Rewi Maniapoto in June 1894 and the tangi for King Tawhiao in August 1894. Recorded 1947. (duration: 1′34″)
Miss L. Chell - moa sighting
Miss L. Chell gives an account of sighting a moa near Oriki and Fern Flat in the Murchison district in 1940. The name of the interviewer is not known. Recorded in 1958. (duration: 1′43″)
Barry Devonport
Last few moments of first successful Cook Strait crossing by swimmer Barry Devonport (recorded 20 Nov 1962). (duration: 4′29″)
Dorothy Thompson
Dorothy Thompson, a prominent journalist, political commentator and a leading opponent of Hitler talks about the way words are distorted and debased as a part of the propaganda battle. (duration: 4′40″)
Winston McCarthy
Rugby Union radio commentator Winston McCarthy, known as the "Voice of New Zealand Rugby" reviews the Springbok Tour of 1956. (duration: 3′01″)
Auckland Harbour Bridge Construction
Coverage of the Pick-A-Back span (first stage of construction) of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Broadcast 1 December 1958. The Auckland Harbour Bridge opened on 30 May 1959. (duration: 4′42″)
Bob Irvine
An extract from the highly respected sports broadcaster Bob Irvine's commentary of the British Isles vs Auckland on July 30,1966. (duration: 7′38″)
Mount Cook Company
Mrs. Wigley, wife of the founder of the Mount Cook Company, tells of the company's early years, Recorded in 1964. (duration: 0′42″)
Lux Radio Theatre
Lost Horizon: a short excerpt of the story of Shangri-La read by Ronald Colman. (duration: 3′00″)
Pei Te Hurinui Jones Lecture
Story of the Tainui Canoe. 1966 lecture given by Dr. Pei te Huinui Jones in Hamilton. (duration: 4′59″)
Bristol Freighter's last flight to Chatham Islands, 3 Aug 1975
On the 3rd August 1975 the Bristol Freighter made its final flight from the Chatham Islands. The recording begins with the sound of the plane as it approaches Wellington Airport on its return flight. Cliff Fanthom, the pilot, talks about its last flight and the service and the Chatham Islanders he met. (duration: 2′32″)
What's in the name?
An early guide to the use of the Maori word 'Roto' in the names of lakes. (duration: 2′26″)
NZ Police Dogs
Sergeant Riley introduces, Miska, Dante, Silver and Karen, NZ's first Police Dogs, brought out from England in 1956. (duration: 1′58″)
News
The installation of a transmitter which relayed the Whangarei radio station, 1XN, to Kaitaia was celebrated in the Far North town as another sign that the isolation of the past was over. Here's the mayor of the time describing how the news got around in the old days. (duration: 1′07″)
Stravinsky
The Russian composer, Igor Stravinsky, directs the National Orchestra through a rehearsal of his ballet,"Apollo", on the 18th of November, 1961, at the Wellington Town Hall. (duration: 13′15″)
Bob Irvine
Bob Irvine's commentary of the first test between Lions and the All Blacks on the British Isles tour of New Zealand in 1966. (duration: 3′44″)
What's in the name?
An early guide to the pronunciation of the Maori names Waingongoro, Waingarara, and Motukarara . (duration: 2′38″)
What's in the name?
An early guide to the pronunciation of the Maori name Rawene. (duration: 3′07″)
Tarawera Eruption Interview
On 1 June 1986 Geoff Robinson talked to expert John Lather about the Tarawera eruption of 1886. (duration: 4′47″)
Alcohol Licensing
Part of a 1958 radio documentary that weighs up the arguments for, and against, six o'clock closing and liquor trusts. (duration: 8′57″)
Piano on Milford Track
Dan Greaney recalls the story of Bill Anderson donating his wife's piano to the Tourism Department for Quintin Huts on the Milford Track. Recorded in 1970. (duration: 2′30″)
The Great Plague
In New Zealand 1918, over seven thousand people died from the epidemic which hit fast resulting in extremely high temperatures and people's bodies turning black. (duration: 5′22″)
Stewart Kinross
Stewart Kinross gives a light-hearted talk on decimal currency. Recorded in April 1967. (duration: 6′28″)
The Voice of Time
A drama about the first 25 years of radio broadcasting featuring the voice of Selwyn Toogood and Clive Drummond (made in 1950) (duration: 8′28″)
Elizabeth McCombs
The election of New Zealand's first female MP, Elizabeth McCombs, 13 September 1933. (duration: 4′16″)
Canterbury Ram Sing-Song
A pair of classic all-male sing-songs written for the 1956 Springbok vs Canterbury Rams rugby match (duration: 1′11″)
Christmas with the Enemy
Terry Egan talks about celebrating Christmas with German and Italian soldiers while in a POW camp in Italy. 1950s. (duration: 6′28″)
World of Motoring
"World of Motoring"session on the demise of the pedestrian and the need to ease off the accelerator pedal. (duration: 2′10″)
Peter Sellers
Sports broadcaster, Peter Sellers, talks to Jim Sullivan and tells the pie story from 1956 which occurred in Wellington's Athletic Park. (duration: 4′32″)
The Kiwi All-Electronic Wedding
The Kiwi All-Electronic Wedding. From a 1989 perspective, Hop Owen takes an imaginative journey into the electronic future and visualises a wedding. (duration: 2′58″)
Early Timaru
Violet Donaldson (nee Capstick) recalls lamp lighters in Waimate, a Boer War ball and bathing machines on Caroline Bay. (duration: 7′07″)
Ears
Host Dick Weir talks to the Letterbox Lizard from the children's radio show 'Ears.' A 1989 radio award winner. (duration: 4′32″)
Bastion Point
On 25 May 1978, 222 protesters were evicted and arrested by police and army personnel after a 506 day occupation at Bastion Point led by Joe Hawke. (duration: 3′08″)
Memories of Christmas
In this recording several famous New Zealanders offer their memories of Christmas. They are - Peter McIntyre, Arnold Nordmeyer and Ngaio Marsh, date unknown. (duration: 11′30″)
Classic announcer's auditions.
Classic announcer's auditions, including attempts at YC log and ad-libbing. Recorded in the 1950s. (duration: 9′44″)
Wildlife on the Hope River -The Weka
Dick Morris was a character who loved wildlife and would join Godfrey Wilson live on air in the 1950's to tell of his latest discoveries living in and around Hope River on the West Coast of the South Island. (duration: 8′18″)
Whina Cooper
Alwyn Owen interviews Whina Cooper. (duration: 31′40″)
NZ Film Making Wanganui River
Interview with Rudall Hayward about 1962 film 'The Wanganui River'. (duration: 2′48″)
Wes Harrison - part 1
Wes Harrison, a human sound effects impersonator, talks with Dave Pyke on the Tonight Show, whilst touring NZ. (Part 1) (duration: 13′54″)
James Henare opens the Waitangi celebrations in 1953
James Henare opens the Waitangi celebrations in 1953. (duration: 7′15″)
Story and Song of the Tainui Canoe
When the Tainui canoe arrived in Aotearoa their first landfall was in the Bay of Plenty, near the Cape Runaway district (duration: 4′22″)
Liquor
Six o'clock closing ended 9 October 1967. A survey of public opinion in 1958 had this to say about restaurants serving wine with meals. (duration: 2′01″)
New Year's messages
2YA announcers deliver a New Year's messages in rhyming couplets. (duration: 5′13″)
The rooster in molasses
A farmer (who wishes to remain anonymous) tells the story of what happened to him one afternoon in 1959 when he tried to rescue a rooster from a drum of molasses. (duration: 11′30″)
Emergency in Malaya
Emergency in Malaya - Selwyn Toogood presents and produced this programme during the height of the cold-war. (Excerpt only) (duration: 10′37″)
Gary Knight
1981 Springbok tour - an excerpt from the match played in Auckland where Gary Knight is hit by a flour bomb that was dropped by a Cessna aircraft. (duration: 2′10″)
Peter Snell
Peter Snell wins the 1000m in Auckland, breaking the world record (duration: 4′16″)
Sid Holland All Black Speech
Prime Minister Sid Holland talks about travel, and toasts the All Blacks before their 1953-54 tour of the British Isles. (duration: 5′11″)
Children's Radio
Children's session 1938 - 'Relay from wharf'. (duration: 3′56″)
Wes Harrison - part 2
Wes Harrison, a human sound effects impersonator, talks with Dave Pyke on the Tonight Show, whilst touring NZ. (Part 2). (duration: 14′05″)
Singer Moya Cooper-Smith
Singer Moya Cooper-Smith is introduced and describes live radio performances in earlier days as a particularly harrowing performance. An excerpt from “Saga of a B Station” produced by Hugh Taylor and broadcast on 3XP Radio Ferrymead in 1997. (duration: 2′58″)
Radio New Zealand Nationwide Broadcasts From Antarctica 1988
Show host George Balani broadcasts live from Scott Base in Antarctica. This was a world first for broadcasting. This is a segment from the end of the programme where family and friends call in from New Zealand with their Christmas messages. (duration: 5′16″)
Spike Milligan
Newsreader Hewitt Humphrey, survives the bulletin whilst being interrupted by comedian Spike Milligan. Milligan is then interviewed by Geoff Robinson on his books, writing plays, acting and his enjoyment of rugby. (duration: 11′41″)
Leslie in the lions den
Les Andrews gets up close and personal with the lions at a circus in Auckland (duration: 4′30″)
Rua Cooper
Rua Cooper speaks to Haare Williams about significant aspects of Tainui history while on the Waikato River on a barge. (duration: 2′30″)
What's in the name?
An early guide to the pronunciation of the Maori names Moera and Waiwhetu. (duration: 2′42″)
Spud Monday
An explanation of Spud Monday - a unique holiday once observed by Nelson province. (duration: 4′26″)
Barry Crump
Barry Crump, rabbiter, deer-stalker, hunter and author talked about his recently published book, A Good Keen Man. Recorded in March 1961. (duration: 4′15″)

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