Audio Content & Oral Histories

Author, collector and Director of the Hawkes Bay Museum and Art Gallery, Douglas Lloyd-Jenkins looks at the architecture that surrounds us - most of which goes unnoticed. Duration 45 minute mp3 file.

To launch Pataka Ipurangi (Digital Library) the Palmerston North City Library held an evening event in the Sound and Vision Zone. The guest speaker was Dr Jock Phillips the General Editor of Te Ara the 'Online Encyclopedia of New Zealand'. Dr Phillips gives an overview of Te Ara and explored in detail some of the features of the new theme 'The Bush'. Duration 47 minute mp3 file. (part 1/2 of the recording)

In this talk Lesley Courtney discusses the houses and families associated with the land that was incorporated into Massey Agricultural College. Duration 1 hour mp3 file.

Interview with Bill Roach, MBE. He worked for the Co-Op from 1971 - 1985 and retired as Chairman of the Board. Interview took place at the time of the 50th jubilee of the Co-Op in 1992. Interviewer: Lee Matthews, reporter for the Manawatu Evening Standard Length: 56 minutes and 30 seconds

Author and film maker, Peter Wells, takes a celebratory look at Frank Sargeson's cottage in Esmonde Road, Takapuna, using more than 200 still photographs to illustrate. Note this is an audio-only talk - the photos were not recorded. Duration 53 minute mp3 file.

This audio recording was made in Palmerston North in the 1960s by Josephine (Nina) and Mary (Meg) Newman, who were both living in the city at the time. Josephine was Nina's mother. Mary is her daughter whom we called Meg. The Newman family was a very musical one - Josephine’s mother Margot Hibbard was a singer in Auckland around 1910 and her sister Violet Sumerset tutored tenors at the Academy of Music in Melbourne. Music and singing were well ingrained into their upbringing. Meg was studying piano at the time of this recording and Nina was also talented in singing they decided it would be great to record them singing and playing the piano together to send to their mother in Melbourne for Christmas. The date of this recording is not exact, but it would have been around 1960 as it was just before Meg left Palmerston North moving to Melbourne to teach and continue studying piano. Meg did so well at piano she became one of Australia’s acclaimed teachers. Meg is now retired. This record consists of four tracks: Greetings, The Muses Gift, Arioso Primo Duet and Arise of Sun.

In this talk Mervyn Dykes takes a look at the lives of some of the Palmerston North's Pioneer movers and shakers, and makes a comparison with those of today. Duration 48 minute mp3 file.

Recorded: April 22nd, 2018. Interviewer: Simon Johnson Abstract: Simon Johnson. Interview with Norma Angus, fabrics Buyer for the PDC, Part 1 of 3 0.30 Had done some office work in school holidays for HERD TESTING in PN while at school. “They were waiting for me to turn 15.” Didn’t sit School Certificate, parents encouraged her to take the position. The job - keeping books, reception. Never regretted leaving school when she did. Labour was short after the war and many people went straight into the work force once they had reached leaving age. Married at 19. Moved to country. Milked a herd with husband. Back to PN when she was 41 and began working at PDC in 1976. 4.45 Job interview taken by VERN LUMLEY. “I had some wonderful years at PDC.” Initial job was salesperson in fabrics. Thinks she may have got job because she was an accomplished sewer. Had made daughter’s wedding dress. GRAHAM GOODING her immediate superior as Fabrics Dept. Buyer. He retired shortly after, and Norma was offered his job. Graham stayed on for 6 months to train her. A Buyer was essentially a head of a department e.g. Fabrics, Hardware, Menswear, etc. Buyers had their own team of staff and selected stock from an agreed budget. Were answerable to the Executive. Were regular Buyers’ meetings so Buyers kept abreast of promotions, etc. and expected to pass this back to their staff. “Communication wonderful.” There were five Fabrics staff. Initially Fabrics Dept. was in old PEGDENS building [Pegdens had been a high end furniture shop]. Later PDC bought the CLUB HOTEL and Fabrics moved there. Was set a little distance from main PDC building [see further details below, 3rd recording]. A display team would set up display windows. Sewing and knitting machines [under the aegis of Merchandise Manager GRAEME MEYERS and JOY TARR] were sold in an area close to Fabrics. 8.30 Two occasions “which really put our fabric shop on the map.” GRAEME MEYERS strong on promotion. Orchestrated a fashion parade in WALDINGS TEAROOMS. Suppliers donated lengths of latest fabrics. Garments made from SIMPLICITY PATTERNS. “Local girls and staff” were models. Manager of SIMPLICITY addressed the audience. KAY RANKIN from 2ZA was compere. Really kicked off the spring season. The second promotion involved the newly introduced KITCHEN WHIZZ food processor. GRAEME MEYERS asked Norma to approach COUNTRY WOMENS’ INSTITUTES because of her “rural connections” to invite members to kitchen whizz demonstration in WALDINGS TEAROOMS by ALISON HOLST. Norma hadn’t intended to buy one but when she saw Alison whip up an apple pie she was “sold.” 13.25 WALDINGS TEAROOMS was owned by JOE WALDING, pie manufacturer and sometime Labour Party MP of Palmerston North. Was in PDC complex so customers saw it as part of PDC. 14.30 TV commercial: Graeme Meyers wanted to promote microwave ovens. Norma chosen for the part “all you saw were my hands” but she still had to learn script re the ease of defrosting and cooking a chicken after getting home from work. Was filmed in the old hall behind ST. ANDREWS PRESBYTARIAN CHURCH next to PDC. Episode illustrates how “PDC was very strong on promotion.” Customers very loyal because of REBATE COUPONS. Helped staff to establish rapport with public. 19.50 Gender mix of staff: “A lot of men. You see we had a Menswear Department and Home Appliances and Hardware.” Mix was probably 50/50 [PDC Assistant Manager Colin Dyer estimates more women than men except in the Hardware and Appliances Depts]. 20.05 Staff relations. Departmental Buyers responsible for making sure all duties covered. “I was lucky with my staff.” 20.55 UNITED STORES GROUP. PDC was part of a wider buying group which operated throughout the two islands. Met in Auckland twice each year. With PDC combining fabric orders with other large stores, could reach the wholesalers’ threshold for a keener price. There was a fabrics preselect committee which presented to the main United Stores Group meeting. Good for basics – poplins, etc. and able to get a better margin through bulk buying. 24.20 Impact of tariff removal in 1980s? Not great for fabrics, bigger effect on china. Vague on this area because it didn’t affect her. 27.00 PDC culture, rules: “Never approach a customer and say ‘can I help you?’ but ‘_how_ can I help you?’ emphasis on I’m here, tell me what you want.” As a new staff member and – initially – as a shop assistant Norma was already familiar with the department and staff as a customer herself. GRAHAM GOODING [Fabric Dept. Buyer – see above] only had to give her a few pointers. Basic rule – Customer is always right. Remembers first run-in with irate customer which she diffused by agreeing with her. Because of loyalty of customers and her familiarity with their tastes she’d buy fabric with certain people in mind. 30.45 Remembers going to Auckland for the day with a certain amount to spend on discounted ‘end of run’ lines of fabric which became the “bread and butter” of PDC’s sales. Departmental budgets were set by management. Norma then responsible for allotting percentages to her suppliers and leaving some over for UNITED STORES GROUP purchases. 33.45 Biggest changes in time at PDC? “SATURDAY TRADING.” [1980] Was a big union meeting in OPERA HOUSE which was only a short distance from PDC on corner of Church Street and Ashley Street. A staff member from CM Ross [department store on Western side of Square, currently occupied by PN City Library. At the time Norma is speaking of the store was no longer CM Ross but DIC] saw Norma through the shop window and challenged her for ‘holding the fort,’ saying that the next step would be SUNDAY TRADING… At Union meetings the Union officials weren’t interested in any pro-Saturday trading opinions from members. “Blocked them.” “We were so fortunate at PDC.” If we worked late on Friday nights we were given meal money. Management not in favour of Saturday trading either, but had to go with the flow. “None of us could envisage Sunday trading.”

Interview with Vallis Peet, Dennis Quinn and Bruce Withell, about dances at Newbury Hall near Palmerston North, in the 1950s. Summary of interview 0.00 - Recording details and introductions 0.35 – What sort of dances did they have? (Bruce, then Dennis) 2.37 – Vallis describing who went, who ran them, refreshments, etc., how many attended. 4.44 – Bruce on behaviour of boys and girls, the “supper waltz” 7.45 – “courting in those days” 9.13 – paying for entry 9.44 - alcohol, none within 3 miles of a dance, but… 12.12 – smoking 12.37 – clothes 13.57 – hairstyles 15.00 – type of dances and music 16.32 – Johnny Devlin 18.52 – waltzes, etc., learning in primary school 20.07 – “Ladies’ choice”, “excuse me” dances 20.38 – difference between country and city dances 21.35 – religious sensitivities 22.18 – lighting 23.35 – were they chaperoned?

George Hartopp Eliot Warburton, a barrister and solictor, arrived in Palmerston North in 1875. He married Sophia Isabella Budd in 1882, and they subsequently had 5 children; Charlotte, Piers, Maud, Mollie and Edward. Maud Dalgety (nee Warburton) was interviewed in 1987 at 91 years of age, about the Warburton family's life. Unknown interviewer.

George Hartopp Eliot Warburton, a barrister and solictor, arrived in Palmerston North in 1875. He married Sophia Isabella Budd in 1882, and they subsequently had 5 children; Charlotte, Piers, Maud, Mollie and Edward. Maud Dalgety (nee Warburton) was interviewed in 1987 at 91 years of age, about the Warburton family's life. Unknown interviewer.

In a talk at the Palmerston North City Library Jenny discusses her most recent novel 'Landings', an historical story set on the Whanganui River around the turn of the 20th Century. Jenny reads an extract from the novel and answers questions at the end. Duration 57 minute mp3 file.

To launch Pataka Ipurangi (Digital Library) the Palmerston North City Library held an evening event in the Sound and Vision Zone. The guest speaker was Dr Jock Phillips the General Editor of Te Ara the 'Online Encyclopedia of New Zealand'. In the second part of the evening Lesley Courtney and Philippa Elphick both from the City Library introduce Pataka Ipurangi and give a brief overview of it's features and content. Duration 42 minute mp3 file. Part 2/2 of the recording.

Interview with Vallis Peet and Dennis Quinn about their teenage years, including dances at the Newbury Hall near Palmerston North in the 1950s. Summary of interview  0.00 - Recording details and introductions 0.18 – Vallis dressed to be different 0.35 – Bodgies and Widgies 1.57 – Newbury Hall 2.18 - mention of Centrepoint production (Alison Quigan’s play “The Newbury Hall dances” set in 1965) 2.30 – musicians 3.37 – drinking and smoking? 4.10 – beer in the boot of the car 4.35 – Red Band beer 4.51 – drink driving 5.27 – asking girls to dance (and being turned down) 5.55 – the supper dance 6.32 – the last dance 6.48 – what the girls wore (dresses with hoops!)

Oral interview regarding the life and experiences of Alan Crews as a boy in the family's grocery on Featherston Street, Palmerston North in the 1950's.

Interview with Frank Goldingham, owner of Viscount Electronics, an early retailer of computers. Interviewer is Terry Stewart. 47 minutes. The first 5 minutes or so is a summary of what's in the text below. The interview and below information were part of Terry Stewart's (Tezza's) Projects and Articles (Blog) online.          Viscount Electronics: Memories of personal computer retailing in the early to mid-1980s in New Zealand  Introduction  The early 1980s saw a new type of retail store appear in towns and cities throughout New Zealand (and indeed, the world!). These shops specialised in importing, then retailing, novel electronic devices which would change society. These devices were personal computers, or "microcomputers" as they were called back then.   At the beginning of the 1980s, New Zealand lacked the large computer-stocked electronic chain stores found overseas, such as Radio Shack and Dick Smith Ltd. The latter eventually arrived around 1982 but prior to that and throughout the 1980s, owner-operator computer shops catered to a growing market. Not only did the stores sell and service personal computers, but also provided peripherals, software and magazines. One could argue that they also acted as a convenient meeting place for the local computer-enthusiasts (i.e. geeks!) of the time.  Sometime in mid-1981, I purchased my first computer (a Dick Smith System 80) from just such a store. That wasn't the end of the relationship however. For at least a couple of years subsequent to my "impulse" purchase I'd visit the store at least once a week to check out the new goods on display, talk to others there and perhaps buy the odd peripheral and a magazine or two. For a while that retail outlet was a regular part of my life. That store was called Viscount Electronics. (A photograph of Frank Goldingham in the store was printed in the Manawatu Evening Standard 1 December, 1981).  History The owner of Viscount Electronics was Frank Goldingham. Frank started out in the printing business. Seeing the benefits of increasing computerization in that industry in the late 1970s got Frank thinking that perhaps there was a retail market for personal computers? After selling his newspaper printing business to INL (now Fairfax) in 1980, he used the proceeds to establish Viscount Electronics which opened as a retail computer store located in Church Street, west of the Square in Palmerston North. It was the second such outlet in the country, the first being David Reid Electronics in Auckland. The store was gradually expanded during 1981, selling a wide range of computer makes and models to the business and home markets. In the mid-1980s, Frank franchised the business, changing its name to Computer Village and eventually overseeing or assisting with a number of these branded stores throughout New Zealand.  Impact and significance I consider Viscount Electronics as having a place in New Zealand personal computing history. Certainly, it was of significance in my home town of Palmerston North but even in the early days, the business sold goods nationally and eventually became a nationwide franchise under the Computer Village brand. Consequently, I decided it would be worthwhile capturing its history in the form of an interview with Frank. The interview not only throws light on his own experience, but also covers some of the issues faced by owner-operator computer retailers during that exciting period of rapid change.   Terry Stewart   27th August, 2018   References to supporting information: Manawatu Evening Standard, June 1981. Article on Viscount electronics. Manawatu Evening Standard supplement, 1 December 1981. Covering a re-vamp of the store. Manawatu Evening Standard (date unknown). On Computer Village franchise.

Interview with past employees of the Consumers' Co-Operative Society in Palmerston North at the time of the 50th jubilee of the Co-Op. Talking are: Edna Hoseason, worked at PDC from 1966 - 1988 (17 minutes); Jane Freeman, Share Registrar of the Co-Op (7 minutes); Peter Pitman, Display Manager 1950s - 1962 (6 minutes); Jim Ryan, 1949 - 1984 (17 minutes); Murial McDonagh, Board member and member of the Co-Ops Women's Guild - mainly about women's involvement. Interviewer: lee Matthews, reporter for the Manawatu Evening Standard Length: 41 minutes, 25 seconds

Grant Smith was elected mayor of Palmerston North in 2015. This interview covers his early years living in Palmerston North and Masterton. Interview of Grant Smith, Mayor of Palmerston North, conducted by Maria Shiva on 28 February 2018. Interview length: 33 minutes and 50 seconds.

Ken Tremaine worked for Palmerston North City Council from 1976 - 1994. He was employed as the City Planner and left the organisation as city council development manager. During his 17 years with council he was involved in many of the city's major projects, several of which were his brainchild. Interview of Ken Tremaine about his career at PNCC, conducted by Ian Matheson on 30 December 1993. Interview length: 8 hour, 20 minutes.