Nau mai ki te kawerongo o Ngā Taonga – welcome to our newsletter

In this issue, we need your help tracking down some missing movies! We also go behind the scenes with a range of odd and charming 'in-house' recordings and training videos, and get to grips with the Fell Locomotive train engine. Plus we have a special DVD prize pack up for grabs.

The Case of the Missing Movies

We need your help solving a mystery! Robert Steele was a notable filmmaker of the 1950s – 1970s, but his work from the 30s and 40s is missing, with tantalising new clues having recently surfaced at the Archive. These films seem to follow the pulp themes popular at the time (A Mild Case of Murder is one delightful title) but no records of them seem to exist.

Read all about how we're trying to crack this case and if you have a lead, please get in touch!

DVD prize pack to be won!

We have a collection of five great DVDs up for grabs – a mix of features, documentaries and archival goodies. To enter the draw, all you have to do is watch a short film and answer a simple question. 

The Match of the Century took place in February 1922 when Auckland's 'Soft Goods Merchants' had a fun afternoon of lawn bowls – with the Retailers taking on the Wholesalers. 

The question – which team was the overall winner of the afternoon's matches? To be in the draw, please watch the film and email your answer. A winner will be drawn at random at 4pm Friday 25 September and contacted via email. 

A peek at in-house footage

Have you ever wondered how some staff were trained or new products were showcased? You can go behind-the-scenes with our range of odd and charming 'in-house' recordings – films produced to instruct and educate staff of various companies. Go from 'cow to cone' with Tip Top ice cream, learn about Cobb & Co's 'exciting' new 1985 menu, or take a guided tour of Levin New World.

On the tracks of the Fell Locomotive

The Fell Locomotive system was one way of navigating the very steep rail passages of New Zealand, where a third, central rail was gripped by horizontal wheels. We have rare footage of one of these engines on the challenging Rimutaka Incline from 1918.

• If you're keen for more Te Wiki o te Reo Māori content, take a listen to the much-loved Rinso jingle in te reo (1964), or catch this clip from Te Tangata Whai Rawa o Weneti – The Māori Merchant of Venice (2001).
• ❄️ Check out New Zealand's first unofficial 'cold war' from 1917. This 'cool' footage shows hundreds of New Zealand soldiers engaged in a huge snowball fight in the Featherston Military Camp.

• Our video of Luna Park, comparing an older scan with a newer one, was popular on Facebook although viewers don't exactly have fond memories of the accompanying song.
• One of this month's most viewed online items was the all-time classic 'Dear John' BASF tapes commercial.
• Auckland Heritage Festival runs 26 September to 11 October and you can catch our programme Early Days of Auckland at several Libraries.
• It's New Zealand Sign Language Week, so we've shared a recording that shows what a huge difference signing has made to people's lives – by giving us a glimpse of what school was like without it. Listen here. 
• This week is also Mental Health Awareness Week – their website has lots of great resources.

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