Nau mai ki te pānui o Ngā Taonga
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Tēnā koe, in this issue we say ‘happy 100th!’ to radio in New Zealand and share a compilation tracking 120 years of filmed interactions between the people of Aotearoa. We also piece back together a glitchy audio recording of Dame Ngaio Marsh, and share a documentary about filmmaker Barry Barclay.

100 Years of Radio

🎂 It was the big ‘100’ for New Zealand radio on 17 November! From experimental university broadcasts to transistor radios, thousands of stations and now the internet – a lot has changed, but the voices and music remain. We share a quick overview of key milestones. Take a listen, too, to Voices in the Air – a presentation from researcher Sarah Johnston, hosted by Kim Hill – that explores the early history of radio in Aotearoa.

Ngā Wai e Rua: Stories of Us

Anei tētahi mea whakahirahira. Ka tirohia ngā mahi a te Māori me Tauiwi e Ngā Wai e Rua: Stories of Us, tae noa ki te tau 1901. Kei te kiriata nei ngā kōrero motuhake o Aotearoa mai i ngā kaupapa ā-motu ki ngā mahi o ia rā. Hui katoa atu ka kīia, ‘ko wai tātou’ ā, i ahu mai tātou i hea. Kua irihia te kiriata rawe nei ki tā mātou ipurangi. He aha ngā wāhanga e mahara ana koe – he aha rā hoki ngā ākorang hou māu?

Drawing together nearly 50 items from our collection, Ngā Wai e Rua: Stories of Us explores the history of filmed encounters between Māori and non-Māori, dating back to 1901. This 45-minute programme covers a huge amount of history and invites you to consider not just what was filmed, but what – and who – was left out.

Digitally preserving the Queen of Crime

November 4 was World Digital Preservation Day – a time to celebrate a major part of the work we do 🎉 Digital technologies can allow clever preservation projects to unfold, such as work on this glitchy interview with Dame Ngaio Marsh. Listen to this interview with the Queen of Crime and read about the work needed to put these puzzle pieces back together.

‘Camera on the Shore’ screening

We're pleased to present a screening of Camera on the Shore, a film that looks at the remarkable Barry Barclay (Ngāti Apa and Pākehā). Graeme Tuckett’s 2009 documentary explores Barclay’s life, philosophy and his work such as Ngati, Tangata Whenua, and The Neglected Miracle. Screening in partnership with Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

Friday 10 December, 12:10pm–2pm, National Library, Wellington. Free entry but bookings are essential due to COVID restrictions.

New entry for the Memory of the World

The archival collection of Christchurch poet and social worker Mary Ursula Bethell has been registered on the UNESCO Aotearoa New Zealand Memory of the World Register. The Register aims to recognise significant documentary heritage – similar to a World Heritage Site – and includes material from our collection, including PATU!, Kaleidoscope and the World War II Mobile Unit Recordings.

Partnership with Māori Television

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