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o Ngā Taonga
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In this issue, guest writer and sound history researcher Sarah Johnston writes about some newly uploaded recordings of New Zealand’s wartime nurses. We reflect on the Rainbow Warrior 40^th anniversary, and share some images of the recent dawn blessing ceremony at Wellington’s new heritage campus. We also join Shirley Grace on a journey of discovery as she traces her whakapapa to Ireland, an appropriate choice with Matariki in the sky.

Guest writer Sarah Johnston: With the Girls Overseas

Between 1939 and 1948, over 1,000 New Zealand women served as nurses in war zones and occupied countries. Like the men who served as soldiers during the same period, some of these women’s voices were recorded by a Mobile Broadcasting Unit and sent back to New Zealand on discs to be played on the radio here. Some sent back messages to loved ones, while others gave detailed interviews about their wartime experiences. Guest writer and sound history researcher, Sarah Johnston, writes about her work with these precious recordings and introduces several that readers can listen to now on the Ngā Taonga website.

Rainbow Warrior anniversary

July 10 was the 40th anniversary of the bombing of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior. A team of French secret service agents detonated two limpet bombs while it was in Auckland Harbour, killing photographer Fernando Pereira and irreparably damaging the ship. Ngā Taonga holds many radio and television records related to the bombing and its aftermath, including the trial of two of the French secret agents responsible.

Among the items available to watch online is a moving video from 1987 that shows the farewell ceremony for the wrecked boat before it was scuttled.

Erin's Exiled Daughters

Matariki in the sky brings forth the months of Hinetakurua (winter). This season for iwi Māori was traditionally a period of hibernation throughout which members would stay predominantly within the boundaries of their own tribe. All huddled up around fire pits, Māori would spend a lot of this time reflecting and reciting whakapapa, or genealogy. For many whānau this is a practice that is still carried out today.

In the spirit of reciting genealogy, we share this 1997 item from the online collection. Shirley Grace discovers that she has Irish heritage and begins a journey to recite and discover her whakapapa links to Ireland.

He whakapapa kōrero, he whenua kura.

Blessing of the new building

At dawn on Tuesday 8 July, kaimahi from Ngā Taonga and Archives National Library, along with tangata whenua and members of the public, attended the official blessing and naming ceremony for the new heritage campus building in Wellington, Te Rua. The new building, connected to the National Library by a link bridge, was designed to provide the safest possible environment for archival taonga.  

Chris Faiumu (DJ Mu)

We acknowledge the sad passing of Chris Faiumu, DJ Mu/Fitchie, founding member of the legendary band Fat Freddy's Drop. Our deepest condolences go to his whānau, friends and all those who were touched by the music he shared. Chris was one of the creative forces behind this kiwi anthem "Wandering Eye." Ia manuia lau malaga, Chris Ta'aloga Faiumu aka DJ MU/Fitchie.

News briefs

• The mass-digitisation project, Utaina, which includes items from Ngā Taonga, National Library and Archives NZ, is a finalist in the Te Hāpai Hapori Spirit of Service Awards.

• Ngā Taonga is seeking a Senior Film Preservation Archivist (Colourist) - Kairokiroki Taonga Matua (Whakakara Kiriata). 

• Welcome to the new archives building – vault of the nation’s memory. 

1.     New Zealand nurses of the 3rd Echelon departing from Wellington during World War II. Photograph by Boyer, Charles Percy Samuel, 1902-1973. Ref: DA-07102-F. Alexander Turnbull Library

2.     Rainbow Warrior picture by Fernando Pereira, Creative Commons.

3.     Screenshot from Erin’s Exiled Daughters.

4.     Photos by Archives Library New Zealand.

5.     Screenshot from "Wandering Eye" by Fat Freddy's Drop.