More Info →Kathy Buurman, Māori childhood on 1950s Foxton dairy farm - Manawatū Conversations

Broadcast on Manawatū People's Radio on 15th October 2019. Born in Foxton, on dairy farm, 1950s, 212 cows. Transformed from gorse and lupin. Aorangi Marae, Feilding. Māori roots. Holidays with grandparents. Mother worked in administration at Massey University. Mother looked fair, but understood Māori. Mixed community at school, generally seen as the norm. Enjoyed school, more to play than to work. One teacher was very strict. Māori children picked out. School for her children was different – more choices, punishment different. Social events for the whole family. Musical family. Effects of mother working in 1950s. Working on the farm, ploughing at 11 or 12. Father injured in a car accident, never returned to the farm.