The NZ Collection Presents – This week in History 2nd – 8th August: Chunuk Bair

The New Zealand Collection is located on the second floor of The Central Library. Each ‘This Week in History’ post is associated with a display in the NZ Collection and uses available databases and the library collections to illustrate and provide additional information.

Wellington Battalion captures Chunuk Bair – 8 August 1915

This year along with the many other 100th anniversary commemorations occurring we pay tribute and remember the many soldiers that lost their lives in the battle for Chunuk Bair. On the 8th August there will be a dawn service at the Wellington Cenotaph, 6.45am–7.45am organised by Wellington City Council to remember the huge losses that took place 100 years ago.

The name ‘Chunuk Bair’ means many things to New Zealanders, national pride, sorrow at the loss of so many lives and anger. The attack began well on the 6th August 2015 with The New Zealand Infantry Brigade and Māori Contingent clearing the way. Progress was made but there were delays which meant that the troops and equipment were not in place at the planned time to continue on and attack the summit. Lieutenant-Colonel William Malone was the commanding officer of the Wellington Battalion and for the days leading up to the battle Malone’s troops were digging in trenches below the peak and preparing to attack early on the 8th August.

Chunuk Bair dugout
Corrie, Frank Reginald, d 1915. Trooper Frank Reginald Corrie of Wellington Mounted Rifles, at Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli, Turkey, during World War I. Williams, Charles Athol, 1899-1990 : Photographs of Te Aute Station, Mangakuri Station, the Williams family, and Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey during World War I. Ref: PAColl-0184-1-006. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23123267

The Wellington Battalion occupied the summit before dawn on 8 August. With sunrise came a barrage of fire from Turks holding higher ground to the north. A desperate struggle to hold Chunuk Bair ensued. It was not until after dark that the Otago Battalion and the Wellington Mounted Rifles arrived to reinforce the 70 Wellington Battalion men (out of 760) who were still holding the line. Malone had been killed by an Allied shell at about 5 p.m. The New Zealanders were relieved on the night of 9/10 August by British battalions, but these quickly succumbed to a counter-attack led by Mustafa Kemal, who was to become the founding President of Turkey.

(From “Today in History page at nzhistory.net.nz.”)

Lieutenant-Colonel William Malone died alongside the many others wounded and killed during the battle and is remembered as a leader who fought for the welfare of his men. A famous quote of his came when he received an order from his superior, Brigadier-General Johnston that he did not agree on and it is alleged he said “We are not taking orders from you people… My men are not going to commit suicide.”

Lietenant Colonel William George Malon
Lieutenant Colonel William George Malone. McAllister, James, 1869-1952 :Negatives of Stratford and Taranaki district. Ref: 1/1-012824-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22789124

Many New Zealand papers carried this notice following William Malone’s death at Chunuk Bair.

Wanganui Chronicle Killed in Action
Retrieved from Wanganui Chronicle , Issue 20434, 13 August 1915, Page 8 from Papers Past

In the New Zealand Collection I work with two people who have been fortunate to visit Chunuk Bair, one as a school student on a history trip and the other who went this year to the 100 year commemorative service. Here is Alison’s photo of the Chunuk Bair memorial taken on the 25th April this year, and a view of the trenches at Chunuk Bair looking back towards Suvla Bay. She found the Chunuk Bair service very moving and poignant. Alison was amazed that so many of the trenches were still visible and was particularly moved on seeing the magnificent view over the Dardanelles from the top. So poignant as you could plainly see why it was such a sought after objective in the Gallipoli campaign and that it was only held for three days.

Chunuk Bair memorial

Trenches Chunuk Bair looking back towards Suvla Bay (3)

While looking for information on this battle I looked at the Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph where you can access information on World War 1 Soldiers. As an example here is the page for William Malone. On the online version you can place a virtual poppy on the cenotaph next to a soldiers name and it also lists the sources used to find information which are good starting points for your own family research as well.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission. A search here for William Malone shows his grave as the Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial which is one of four memorials erected to commemorate New Zealand soldiers who died on the Gallipoli peninsula and whose graves are not known. This memorial has over 850 names.

To view a digitised World War One Military personnel file you can search by name on the Archives New Zealand ARCHWAY site. Click here to see William Malone’s digitised army record.

The New Zealand Electronic Text Collection is a digitised collection of significant New Zealand and Pacific Island texts held by Victoria University of Wellington. The texts are freely accessible to all researchers and you do not have to have an affiliation to Victoria University. You can access war histories and a search using Chunuk Bair will get you a long list of resources that you are able to read online.

From the library collection you can read the war diaries and letters of Lieutenant-Colonel W. G. Malone and others about Chunuk Bair and the Gallipoli campaign.

Syndetics book coverNo better death : the great war diaries and letters of William G. Malone / edited by John Crawford with Peter Cooke.
“Perhaps the greatest leader of men during the Gallipoli campaign, Lieutenant-Colonel W. G. Malone was commanding officer of the Wellington Battalion of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli. He is probably the best-known individual from that ill-fated campaign, a result both of his humanity and his superb leadership, which culminated in the successful assault on Chunuk Bair on 8 August 1915. Malone was killed later that day.’No Better Death’ reproduces Malone’s impressive and often moving correspondence and writings, as well as many striking photographs generously provided by Malone’s descendants. Malone was a gifted writer and a keen observer, and his letters reveal a shrewd military intelligence and genuine care for his men. Above all, this is a story of valour and fortitude under the enormous pressure of being responsible for the lives of many others. It is also the story of a man who had an unbounded love for his family, and constantly drew on the reciprocity of that love to pull through and overcome the frustrations, fear and life-threatening situations he was forced to endure. Malone’s descendants have subsequently served their country with honour, and their stories are also recorded in the book.” (Syndetics summary)

Man of Iron : The extraordinary story of New Zealand WWI hero Lieutenant-Colonel William Malone
“The first biography of one of New Zealand’s best known First World War soldiers.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverGallipoli : a guide to New Zealand battlefields and memorials / Ian McGibbon.
“Gallipoli is one of the most significant sites in the story of New Zealand’s First World War – a symbol of great sacrifice and camaraderie, and the heart of ongoing Anzac commemorations. Gallipoli: A Guide to New Zealand Battlefields and Memorials is the indispensable handbook to the history and geographic features of the campaign for a modern, general readership. Easy-to-follow and highly illustrated, it introduces the battlefields, cemeteries and memorials, detailing the stories behind each and offering historical overviews of New Zealand’s involvement more generally. The perfect introduction to New Zealand’s Gallipoli.” (Syndetics summary)

Chunuk Bair [videorecording] / screenplay by Grant Hindin Miller ; directed by Dale G. Bradley; produced by L. Grant Bradley.
“The tragedy of New Zealand’s experience at Gallipoli is re-told in this historical story. New Zealand’s Wellington Regiment, new to warfare, shellshocked and exhausted, are ordered by their British Generals to take Chunuk Bair. For three days they battle their way to the ridge above. Blinded by a vision of glory and devotion to honour, the Regiment’s Commander pushes up the ridge to take the high ground. Outnumbered by the Turks the New Zealanders find themselves cut off and without supplies. Courage, determination and humour keep them fighting until what was to be their salvation becomes their final nightmare” (Container)

Syndetics book coverGallipoli : the Dardanelles disaster in soldiers’ words and photographs / Richard van Emden and Stephen Chambers.
“Presenting more than 150 never-before-published photographs of the campaign, many taken by the soldiers themselves, together with unpublished written material from British, Anzac, French and Turkish, including eyewitness accounts of the landings, this is an unrivalled account of what really happened at Gallipoli. Van Emden’s gripping narrative and lucid analysis of Churchill’s infamous operation, compliments Chambers’s evocative images, showing how the rapid spread of diseases like dissentry, the lack of clean water and food, the tremendous losses on both sides affected morale, until finally in January 1916, in what were the best-laid plans of the entire disastrous campaign, the Allies successfully fooled the Turkish forces and evacuated their troops from the peninsula with no additional casualties. Leading First World War historian Richard van Emden and Gallipoli expert Stephen Chambers have produced an entirely fresh, personal and illuminating study of one of the Great War’s most catastrophic.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverGallipoli : the New Zealand story / Christopher Pugsley. “Gallipoli is perhaps New Zealand’s most enduring myth, our ‘finest hour’, a bitter, bloody and tragic campaign in which 2721 young men lost their lives of the 8556 who fought there. The campaign is glorified in our observance of Anzac Day, but the true story of New Zealand’s involvement has never been comprehensively told. Army historian Christopher Pugsley, an expert in the campaign, has now collated his extensive research and interviews with survivors to provide a narrative which takes into account every aspect of Gallipoli and its impact on both the New Zealanders who fought there and on the country that sent them. GALLIPOLI – THE NEW ZEALAND STORY provides the first major evaluation of one of our most important historical events, and many decades after the battle, strips bare the myth of Anzac and does justice to the reality of that epic campaign.” (Syndetics summary)

The New Zealand Collection presents – This Week in history 14th – 20th June

This week’s selected topic comes from the Today in History page at nzhistory.net.nz. The New Zealand Collection is located on the second floor of The Central Library. Each ‘This Week in History’ post is associated with a display in the NZ Collection and uses available databases and the library collections to illustrate and provide additional information.

Lovelock wins ‘Mile of the century’

15th June 1935

I grew up in a town where a number of the streets were named after some of New Zealand’s most famous middle distance runners, these were runners who had become household names. There was a Lovelock Street and a Halberg Cresent and I lived on Peter Snell Street for a number of years. In Wellington we have Porritt Ave in Mount Victoria and I’m sure there are lots of towns with parks and streets named after these athletes. This week I chose the anniversary of Lovelock’s “Mile of the Century’ win for this post and I found it difficult to choose what to write about and what to leave out as there are so many connections to some really interesting events and people. So if you want to know more about Lovelock and Porritt check out the links attached to their names below and read the entries in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. This resource is available from the Library Website at the My Gateway New Zealand page.

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Associated Press. Jack Lovelock after his victory in the `mile of the century’ – Photograph taken by the Associated Press. New Zealand Free Lance : Photographic prints and negatives. Ref: PAColl-8163-31. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22453630

Jack Lovelock had become well known as a runner after he set a world record for the mile in 1933 with a time of 4 minutes, 7.6 seconds. He was the top miler and received many invitations to races that were being organised in Europe and the United States. One of the races was to become known as the ‘Mile of the Century’ and it was to pit Lovelock up against a number of American runners and was held at the Princeton College track where he had previously set the world record.

Lovelock Victor
Downloaded from Papers Past from “Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 141, 17 June 1935, Page 14”

Lovelock was the first New Zealand track and field athlete to win an Olympic gold medal which he did at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. The Berlin Olympics was of course known for the debate and protest over the Nazi regime and Hitler’s rise to power which had occurred after Berlin was selected as the venue for the games. Hitler used the games as a propaganda showcase of his regime and to advance the Nazi cause to the world. In the picture below Lovelock is running in fourth place during the 1500m Berlin Olympics.

1500metres 1936 Berlin Olympics
Runners during the first lap of the 1500 metres final at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. Making New Zealand :Negatives and prints from the Making New Zealand Centennial collection. Ref: MNZ-0983-1/4-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22838560

The New Zealand Olympic team in Berlin was managed by Arthur Porritt and this starts a circle of interesting intersections. Starting first with Porritt’s connection to the 1924 Paris Olympics where he represented New Zealand in the 100m race where he came third and won the bronze medal. This was the race famously depicted in the movie “Chariots of Fire”. Apparently due to Porritt’s modesty his name did not feature in the movie and a fictional ‘Tom Watson’ was depicted as the bronze medallist. The winner of that famous race and so the main character depicted in the movie was Harold Abrahams. This brings us back to Lovelock and the Berlin Olympics. On the following Youtube clip you can watch Lovelock winning the Olympic gold medal in the 1500m race. The amazing commentary is by Harold Abrahams who was covering the Olympics for BBC radio. It’s a cross between an informed expert commentary and a fan watching a race on television at home with lots of “Come on Jack, he’s won, Hooray he’s won!!!. It is an amazing clip to watch and I’m sure you will enjoy the exuberant commentary.

Syndetics book coverJack Lovelock : athlete and doctor / Graeme Woodfield. “Jack Lovelock remains one of New Zealand’s greatest sportsmen, the diminutive figure in black who, “running in a rapture”, won the Olympic 1500m gold medal in world record time in front of Hitler in 1936.Despite his fame, Lovelock has been an enigmatic, elusive figure. This prompted fellow Timaru Boys’ High School old boy Dr Graeme Woodfield to embark on a comprehensive study of Lovelock. Woodfield has examined the many facets of Lovelock – athlete, doctor, journalist, soldier, family man – and, drawing on the contributions of several specialists, completed what is virtually a forensic investigation of this famous New Zealander. He now offers the most comprehensive and readable account of this New Zealand icon’s life.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverAs if running on air : the journals of Jack Lovelock / edited by David Colquhoun.
“In the 1930s the New Zealander Jack Lovelock was one of the world’s best-known athletes. In 1933 he broke the world record for the mile. At the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games he won a gold medal and broke the world record for the 1500 metres. When he retired, a leading sports writer lamented the end of a golden age of mile racing. Throughout his running career Lovelock kept journals and diaries. While much has been written about Lovelock, until now his journals and diaries have never been published. Some are brief, little more than notes; others are eloquent and reflective. Collectively they constitute a unique record of a sporting life in the 1930s and offer insights into just what it took to make a world champion.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverNo ordinary man : the remarkable life of Arthur Porritt / Joseph Romanos and Graeme Woodfield.
“Arthur Porritt was a multi-faceted New Zealander who achieved great things in several spheres. Among his achievements: A Rhodes Scholar in 1923. An Olympic sprint medallist, in 1924, in the 100m final made famous by the film Chariots of Fire. A widely-respected and much-honoured surgeon, who became president of the Royal College of Surgeons and the British Medical Association. A member of the International Olympic Committee for more than half a century, and chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation for 18 years. A decorated war hero, who was present during the D-Day landings. Surgeon to the Royal Family from 1936-67. The first New Zealand-born Governor General. In addition to their own research, the authors – one a medical doctor, the other a sports writer – have been given Porritt’s extensive unpublished memoirs, and have made maximum use of these in compiling No Ordinary Man.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverHitler’s Olympics : the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games / Christopher Hilton.
“The Berlin Olympic Games, which remain the most controversial ever held, have their 70th anniversary in August 2006. Using newspapers, diaries and interviews to recreate the atmosphere during the XIth Olympiad, this book presents an account of the disputes, the personalities and the events which made these Games so memorable.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverOlympia / Leni Riefenstahl ; foreword by Monique Berlioux ; introduction by Kevin Brownlow.
“A pictorial coverage of the Berlin Olympics.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverFaster stronger higher : golden Olympians of New Zealand / Wilf Haskell.
“Wilf Haskell has written a book which is unique. His research into the previously unrecorded background of New Zealand’s Olympic champions provides some new and interesting insights into our gold medal winners from our first involvement in the Olympic Games through to the 1960’s.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverOur Olympic century / Joseph Romanos.
“A landmark book that contains the story of New Zealand’s first 100 years at the Olympic Games, presented in an attractive, easy-to-read format” (Syndetics summary)

The New Zealand Collection presents – This week in history: 24th – 30th May

This week’s selected topic comes from the Today in History page at nzhistory.net.nz. The New Zealand Collection is located on the second floor of The Central Library. Each week we feature topics in the This Week in History display in the NZ Collection and using available databases and the library collections to illustrate and provide additional information.

29 May 1953: Hillary and Tenzing conquer Everest

Arguably our most famous New Zealander and someone whose picture we probably all carry around in our wallet, all be it on the $5 note, as he was one of the few living non-heads of state to feature on the banknotes first issued in 1990. This week we celebrate Sir Edmund Hillary’s Everest climb to the top of the world.

Edmund Hillary came to worldwide attention when he and Tenzing Norgay became the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. Hillary and fellow New Zealander George Lowe were members of the British Everest Expedition which was led by John Hunt. The summit was reached 4 days before the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. They reached the 8848m summit on the 29th May 1953. There was much discussion and controversy over who was the first to step on the summit. The news broke on the morning of the coronation and Hillary was one of the first to receive a knighthood from the new Queen bringing about another controversy as Hillary was knighted while Norgay was awarded the George Medal.

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Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing Norgay in Wellington. Further negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1971/3690/6A-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22751853

I used the Proquest database located on the MyGateway page of the library webpages to find some articles written about Sir Edmund Hillary. The great thing about the Proquest database is that it offers full text, searchable access to national and provincial newspaper from Australia and New Zealand including The Dominion Post, Sunday Star Times and The New Zealand Herald. You need a library card to log on so you can search from home or on the free internet service available at all our branch libraries. I found a number of obituaries written at the time of Sir Edmund’s death. I particulary liked this quote from an article titled “The man mountain” by Anthony Hubbard in the Sunday Star Times on the 6th Apr 2003.

Hillary laughed about the cascade of compliments coming his way during the 50th anniversary of his conquest of Everest. “What’s the term they use?” he asked. “No, not the hero, the ah… I always forget the name.” He called out to his wife upstairs. “June, what am I?” Lady Hillary came down and said, matter of fact: “An icon.”

“An icon!” he laughed. “I’m certainly not an icon at home.” “No man”, she replied, “is an icon to his wife.”

While talking about Sir Edmund Hillary with a colleague he mentioned a performance he had seen at Womad and sent me a link. It received a rousing reception at the festival and it is worth a look. The group Public Service Broadcasting say in their Youtube account description that “They take samples from old public information films, archive footage and propaganda material, attempting to ‘teach the lessons of the past through the music of the future’.” You can view the clip below or hop over to to our catalogue for their CD titled Inform educate entertain.

You can also view a N.Z. On Screen short film of Hillary returning to New Zealand after the history making climb to the summit of Everest at their website here. You will also be able to view other documentaries about Sir Edmund Hillary from the same link.

A trivia question: What vehicle associated with Sir Edmund’s Antarctic expeditions is pictured on the five dollar note? Go to see the answer here as it’s quite hard to see on the bottom left corner of the note.

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Following his ascent of Everest Hillary devoted much of his life to helping the Sherpa people of Nepal through the Himalayan Trust, which he founded in 1960. Due to the trust and his determined efforts many schools and hospitals were built in this remote region of the Himalayas. Through the trust many New Zealanders have donated money and volunteered in the building projects and staffing of schools and hospitals in Nepal. On the 50th anniversary of the climb the Prime Minister of Nepal made Sir Edmund an honorary citizen of Nepal. A close connection between Nepal and New Zealand continues today and at the time of the tragic Anzac Day earthquake in Nepal Himalayan Trust members and other New Zealand travellers and volunteers were in Nepal. A number of appeals have since been launched in New Zealand to provide aide to the Nepalese people.

Various expeditions to climb Everest had been undertaken since 1921 and you can read digitised newspaper articles on the Papers Past database with a simple search of Everest. You can also read online the New Zealand Geographic here and search for articles on Hillary by logging on with your library card. I found the following article on Papers Past from the Evening Post 18 July 1934 which illustrates the drive that adventurers felt to conquer Everest which was sometimes called the ‘Third Pole’ in relation to the difficulty, excitement and interest in planning and making North and South Pole Expeditions.

Evening Post 18 July 1934, Page 9

Sir Edmund Hillary was on the front cover of many newspapers and magazines following the Everest climb. Articles can be found in the London Times which you can search using your library card to log in from the Newspaper database collection here. As the 1950s print media is not widely digitised you can instead view Wellington newspaper front pages of the time on microfilm, or you can ask to see the Life Magazine issue (Vol 15, No. 3. August 10, 1953 – International Edition) that had Hillary and Tenzing on the front cover. The famous magazine contained an article written by Sir Edmund Hillary, Tenzing’s own story and some stunning photographs. There is also a small glossary of the special ‘Language of Everest’ to explain climbing terms used in the article. You can also ask to see the 1953 New Zealand Alpine Journal that has an editorial dedicated to the ‘Ascent of Everest’ and contains an article by Hillary about the previous year’s British expedition to the Himalayas or the May 2003 copy of National Geographic for an article on the 50th anniversary of the ascent.

Hillary Magazines

Hillary died of heart failure at the age of 88 on 11 January 2008. At Scott Base in Antarctica and at all New Zealand government and public buildings flags were lowered to half mast in recognition of his death and as a tribute to what he meant to the people of New Zealand. A state funeral was held in New Zealand and a thanksgiving service was also held in London. Many memorials and lasting tributes have since been set up to commemorate him. The library holds a number of books about Hillary and Everest, the first is a fascinating illustrated biography with stunning photos many taken by Sir Edmund who was an avid photographer.

Syndetics book coverSir Edmund Hillary : an extraordinary life / Alexa Johnston.
“Around the world Sir Edmund Hillary is a legendary figure – climber, bold adventurer, practical philanthropist and one of the most widely respected persons of our time. He has survived extremes of human experience – from historic triumphs to crushing personal loss – but he sees himself as an ordinary man, persistent rather than heroic. This beautiful book is profusely illustrated with over 500 images, using fascinating material, such as letters, cards, diary pages, and ephemera, from his personal archive. It is a magnificent tribute to one of the greatest climbers and explorers of all time.” (Syndetics summary)

Here is a quote from Edmund Hillary’s diary from Sir Edmund Hillary : an extraordinary life.

Tenzing is an absolutely first class companion for a climber such as myself who likes a lion’s share of the leading. His great strength & endurance enable him to maintain almost any pace without complaint. He is always watchful and efficient in his technique & over dangerous ground the rope is kept tight with a comforting assurance of readiness to meet any emergency.

Syndetics book coverView from the summit / Edmund Hillary.
View from the Summit is a thoughtful and honest reappraisal of a life spent pushing human ability to its limits and relishing the challenges thrown down by the elements. It is also the story of a man whom the world has taken to its heart.” (Inside Cover)

Syndetics book coverSir Edmund Hillary & the people of Everest / foreword by Prince Philip ; with photographs by Anne B. Keiser ; text by Cynthia Russ Ramsay.
“Describes Hillary’s ascent to the summit of Mount Everest and his lifelong relationship with the Sherpas.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverEverest 1953 : the epic story of the first ascent / Mick Conefrey.
“On the morning of 2 June 1953, the day of Queen Elizabeth’s coronation, the first news broke that Everest had finally been conquered. Drawing on first-hand interviews and unprecedented access to archives, this is a ground-breaking new account of that extraordinary first ascent. Revealing that what has gone down in history as a supremely well-planned expedition was actually beset by crisis and controversy, Everest 1953 recounts a bygone age of self-sacrifice and heroism, using letters and personal diaries to reveal the immense stress and heartache the climbers often hid from their fellow team members. Charting how the ascent affected the original team ­in subsequent years and detailing its immense cultural impact today, Everest 1953 is the perfect book to commemorate this remarkable feat of the human will.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverEverest – the first ascent : the untold story of Griffith Pugh, the man who made it possible / Harriet Tuckey.
“Marking the 60th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest in May 1953, Everest — The First Ascent tells the story of the doctor and physiologist Griffith Pugh, without whom the successful conquest of Everest by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay would not have been possible. Recruited as an advisor in 1952, Pugh battled for fifteen months — in the face of opposition, suspicion and ridicule — to revolutionise almost every aspect of British high-altitude mountaineering, transforming the approach to oxygen, clothing, boots, tents, air beds, fitness, hygiene, health-care, diet and acclimatisation. The results were a stunning success and opened the door to the golden age of Himalayan climbing. Pugh’s techniques are still in use today, yet he has never enjoyed popular credit for his work.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverAfter Everest : inside the private world of Edmund Hillary / Paul Little with Carolyne Meng-Yee.
“Edmund Hillary is a towering figure among adventurers. His conquest of Everest and his dedication to the welfare of the Nepalese people is well known. While much has been written about what Sir Edmund Hillary did, ‘Ed’, the man behind the legend, is less well known in large part because he controlled how his story was told. The years leading up to Everest and the other great adventures are remarkable enough, but it is the drama of Ed’s later years that throws light onto the world of the private man: the death of his wife and daughter in an air crash, his remarriage to the widow of an old friend, and, finally, the falling out, after his own death, of family members and those in his inner circle. Ed’s image was that of a simple, straightforward man, but in reality he was a complex bundle of paradoxes. This is the story of the man behind the legend.”–Back cover.

Syndetics book coverThe conquest of Everest : original photographs from the legendary first ascent / George Lowe and Huw Lewis-Jones.
“Published to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the conquest of Mount Everest, this visually spectacular book features a trove of original photographs and other rare materials from the George Lowe collection, many unpublished, complemented by classic images from the final ascent. Stunning landscapes, candid portraits, and action shots describe the day-by-day moments of the historic expedition as never before.The extraordinary journey is retold from Lowe’s point of view, capturing the drama of the expedition and the personal stories of those involved. The book also includes contributions from an impressive team of mountaineers and explorers, including Reinhold Messner, Sir Chris Bonington, the late Sir Edmund Hillary, Peter Hillary, Doug Scott, Stephen Venables, Norbu Tenzing Norgay, Tom Hornbein, Kenton Cool, and Jan Morris.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverEverest / [editors, Ian Penberthy and George Lewis].
“Approximately 400 unique photographs, along with descriptive captions, transport the reader from base camp to the snow-clad slopes and ridges of Mount Everest, and to the peak itself. The Earth’s highest mountain… has long been a lure for mountaineers and explorers. The dangers of altitude sickness, adverse weather conditions, and ferocious winds make the peak tantalizingly difficult to attain. The ninth British expedition, led by John Hunt, made two attempts in 1953. The first climbing pair came to within 300ft of the summit on May 26th, but were forced to turn back after experiencing oxygen problems. Two days later New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, a Nepali Sherpa, made a second assault, reaching the summit at 11:30 am on May 29th via the South Col Route. The Royal Geographical Society’s extensive archives contain an astonishingly detailed and intimate record of the unsuccessful expeditions in the 1920s and 1930s, and the landmark 1953 expedition, with many fascinating and beautiful images captured by the photographers who accompanied the climbing teams.” (Syndetics summary)

The New Zealand Collection Presents – This Week In History: 17th – 23rd May

The Kingitanga movement was established in 1858 due to concerns among some central North Island Māori tribes of alienation of Māori land and to give Māori leadership an equal status to that of the English monarchy. Korokī Te Rata Mahuta Tāwhiao Pōtatau Te Wherowhero was the fifth king. This week’s selected topic comes from the Today in History page at nzhistory.net.nz. The New Zealand Collection is located on the second floor of The Central Library. Each week we feature topics in the This Week in History display in the NZ Collection and using available databases and the library collections to illustrate and provide additional information.

18 May 1966: The Death of the Māori King Korokī

Korokī
King Koroki Te Rata Mahuta Tawhiao Potatau Te Wherowhero and others. Ref: PAColl-0671-01. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22908707

Korokī (pictured above in the centre) was the eldest son of Te Rata, the fourth Māori king. Te Rata died in 1933 and although Koroki felt unprepared to take his father’s place and felt the people were too poor to afford to support a king, he was however crowned on 8 October 1933. His feeling of being unprepared meant he made sure his successors were well educated and better prepared for the role than he had been.

Coat of Arms
Carved door, and door surround, including the coat of arms for the Maori kings (Te Paki o Matariki) at the Turongo House, Turanga-waewae, Ngaruawahia. Godber, Albert Percy, 1875-1949 :Collection of albums, prints and negatives. Ref: APG-1501-1/4-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22801383

This photo shows a welcoming Haka performed before Korokī makes an official speech. You can listen to Korokī making a speech here.

Mahina-a-rangi
Haka and action song being performed at Mahina-a-rangi meeting house, Turangawaewae marae, Ngaruawhahia. Original photographic prints and postcards from file print collection, Box 2. Ref: PAColl-5584-28. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22454670

You can read an article about the tangihana (funeral) of Korokī from the National Library website of the digitised journal Te Ao Hou here. The website describes the journal below;

Te Ao Hou was published from 1952 to 1976 by the Māori Affairs Department in New Zealand Aotearoa. According to its first editorial, Te Ao Hou aimed “to provide interesting and informative reading for Maori homes … like a marae on paper, where all questions of interest to the Maori can be discussed.

The journal can be accessed from the Māori Resources page via the Rauemi link on the Wellington Libraries website.

King Karokī's carved house
Creator unknown : Photograph of King Koroki’s carved house at Ngaruawahia. Ref: PAColl-9376. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22334266

Here are some of the books held in the library collection about people of note in the Kingitanga.

Koroki, my king.
“A collection of memories of King Koroki, the fifth Maori king. These memoirs have been offered by the people of Waikato” — ” The story is written at the request of Te Arikihui Te Atairangikaahu. It is to commemorate the reign of her father, King Korokī, and to acknowledge the effort and sacrifice of his people” (Inside Cover)

Syndetics book coverTe Kingitanga : the people of the Maori King movement : essays from, The dictionary of New Zealand biography / foreword by Sir Robert Te Kotahi Mahuta, introduction by Angela Ballara.
“These biographies of fourteen Kingitanga leaders, from Potatau to Te Rata, tell the story of the movement in its first century. Te Kingitanga documents the struggle with colonial authority, the confiscation of over a million acres, the establishment of the aukati (the King’s boundary), the period of self-imposed isolation in which the principles of the kingdom were developed, the refusal to compromise, and the efforts to regain what was lost. This history records also the resurgence of the movement in the twentieth century.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverKing Pōtatau : an account of the life of Pōtatau Te Wherowhero the first Māori king / Pei Te Hurinui.
“This book details the background to the Kingitanga and also tells the story of the first king, Potatau Te Wherowhero. It details all the momentous events of Te Wherowhero’s life from around 1775 to his death in 1860, including his status as Lord of the Waikato and the famous battles and conflicts with other tribes, his raising up as the First Maori King, and Mana Motuhake, the Maori Kingship, set apart as the symbol of the spiritual and cultural life of the Maori. Pei Te Hurinui’s biography of King Potatau tells this story in a Maori voice employing waiata, poetry and whakapapa as well as prose text in English and English translations so that the book is accessible to both Maori language speakers and those with no knowledge of Maori.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverThe Maori king / John Eldon Gorst ; edited with an introduction by K.O. Arvidson.
The Māori King has long been recognised as a masterpiece of nineteenth-century New Zealand Literature. E.H. McCormick thought it pre-eminent among works on the wars of the 1860s, while Keith Sinclair considered it ‘the very best of nineteenth century account of life among the Māori’ M.P.K. Sorrenson has described it as ‘one of the classics of New Zealand Literature’.” (Inside Cover)

For added interest you can head to the Times Digital Archive which can be accessed from our newspapers page from the collection of databases at My Gateway on the library website to read a letter Gorst sent to the times that was published on the 24th December 1863. And you can read a biography of John Gorst here.

Tamihana the kingmaker / by L.S. Rickard.
From the preface it reads “It was while I was reading the new edition of Sir John Gorst’s ‘The Māori King’ that I realised that Wiremu Tamihana was one of the most remarkable men in our history and also one of its least known. In spite of the important part he took in the affairs of the 1850s and 1860s, he occupies few lines in most history books…..This work is an attempt to redress the balance.”

Te Puea : a life / Michael King.
Te Puea Herangi, whom Professor John Pocock identified as ‘possibly the most influencial women in our political history’, wanted an honest biography of her turbulent life.” (Abridged back cover)

The New Zealand Collection Presents: This Week in History 3rd – 9th May

For generations of New Zealanders ‘The School Journals’ have been part of our literacy journey. I have vivid memories of my class each being handed a journal and taking turns reading a paragraph out loud. I would run my finger along the words as others read so I would be ready for my turn. There was always such excitement when the teacher announced “turn to the play on page 12” and then we would all be anxiously waiting and hoping to get a part to read.

School Journal 1975

The stories talked about New Zealand places and people, the poems evoked New Zealand scenery and experiences and sometimes the stories and poems had art work by children. This week’s selected topic comes from the Today in History page at nzhistory.net.nz. The New Zealand Collection is located on the second floor of The Central Library. Each week we feature topics in the This Week in History display in the NZ Collection and using available databases and the library collections to illustrate and provide additional information. This week’s topic;

9 May 1907 The First School Journal published

In May 1907 New Zealand pupils were for the first time able to read a schoolbook published in their own country. The quarterly School Journal was initiated by Inspector-General of Schools George Hogben as a free publication containing information on history, geography and civics. This was a cheaper option than publishing several separate textbooks. Until 1939, when a School Publications Branch was formed, the School Journal was the Department of Education’s sole publication for children.

Wellington Central Library holds a collection of New Zealand School Journals in our Magazine Stack dating back to the 1907 bound copy.

Journals 1907

The School Journal was published by Learning Media for the Ministry of Education from 1993 until 2013, when it moved to a private publisher, Lift Education. Believed to be the longest-running serial publication for children in the world, the Journal continues to provide seven- to 13-year-olds with reading material that is relevant to their lives. Around 750,000 copies of the School Journal are published annually in four parts.

They can also now be read online here at the Ministry of Education’s TKI website.

Margaret Mahy’s first book, A Lion in the Meadow, was published in 1969 but this story was first published in a New Zealand School Journal. We hold a copy of this journal in our rare books collection A lion in the meadow, and other stories and poems / [stories by Margaret Mahy ; pictures by Jill McDonald].. We also have a recent edition of this early reader classic in our children’s collection.

Syndetics book coverA lion in the meadow / Margaret Mahy ; illustrated by Jenny Williams.
“A new Early Reader edition of this classic story from the hugely popular and award-winning Margaret Mahy When the little boy tells his mother he has seen a big, roaring, yellow, whiskery lion in the meadow, she decides to make up a story for him too and gives him a matchbox with a tiny dragon inside.” (Syndetics summary)

To celebrate the School Journal 100 year anniversary in 2007 Learning Media published the beautiful ‘A Nest of Singing Birds’, a browse of this book is sure to evoke memories of classroom and childhood.

Syndetics book coverA nest of singing birds : 100 years of the New Zealand school journal / [by Gregory O’Brien]
“A NEST OF SINGING BIRDS: 100 YEARS OF THE NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL JOURNAL by Gregory O’Brien celebrates, in lively words and gorgeous images, the publication that over the last hundred years has shaped New Zealanders – and the luminaries of New Zealand arts and letters who have featured in it.” (Syndetics summary)

Many of New Zealand’s foremost authors and illustrators have had their work published in the School Journal over the past century. They include Rita Angus, James K. Baxter, Alistair Campbell, Russell Clark, Jack Lasenby and E. Mervyn Taylor.

Here are some examples of what these artists and writers have gone on to produce or had written about them.

Syndetics book coverMāori boy : a memoir of childhood / Witi Ihimaera.
“This is the first volume of Witi Ihimaera’s enthralling memoir, packed with stories from the formative years of this much-loved writer. Witi Ihimaera is a consummate storyteller – one critic calling him one of our ‘finest and most memorable’. Some of his best stories, however, are about his own life. This honest, stirring work tells of the family and community into which Ihimaera was born, of his early life in rural New Zealand, of family secrets, of facing anguish and challenges, and of laughter and love. As Ihimaera recounts the myths that formed his early imagination, he also reveals the experiences from real life that wriggled into his fiction. Alive with an inventive, stimulating narrative and vividly portrayed relatives, this memoir is engrossing, entertaining and moving, but, more than this, it is also a vital record of what it means to grow up Maori.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverChappy
“A literary milestone: Patricia Grace’sfirst novel in ten years. Uprooted from his privileged European life and sent to New Zealand to sort himself out, twenty-one-year-old Daniel pieces together the history of his Maori family. As his relatives revisit their past, Daniel learns of a remarkable love story between his Maori grandmother Oriwia and his Japanese grandfather Chappy. The more Daniel hears about his deceased grandfather, the more intriguing – and elusive – Chappy becomes. In this touching portrayal of family life, acclaimed writer Patricia Grace explores racial intolerance, cross-cultural conflicts and the universal desire to belong. Spanning several decades and several continents and set against the backdrop of a changing New Zealand, Chappy is a compelling story of enduring love.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverRita Angus : life & vision / edited by William McAloon & Jill Trevelyan.
“This exquisite full-colour catalogue explores the life and work of Rita Angus (1908#150;70), one of New Zealand’s best-loved artists and her legacy of art in New Zealand. It features magnificent reproductions of every artwork in the exhibition, from iconic landscapes and portraits like Cass and Rutu to work never before seen in public. Includes essays from well-known writers, critics, and art historians.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverBaxter basics / James K. Baxter.
“In 1954 James K Baxter became a teacher and began writing poems for children. Here for the first time in one volume are the Baxter Basics – a New Zealand classic. BAXTER BASICS were originally published in 1979 as six poems in separate booklets: Rain, I’m a Tree, The Tree House, The Seagull, The Ships and The Firemen. They remain some of the finest examples of children’s poetry produced in this country. With their delightful original illustrations by the celebrated Lynley Dodd, Judith Trevelyan, Dawn Johnston and Ernest Papps this volume is a must have for kiwi kids and adults alike.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverJames K. Baxter : poems / by James K. Baxter ; selected and introduced by Sam Hunt.
“Including 50 poems by revered New Zealand poet and social activist James K. Baxter, this unique and accessibly sized collection offers an insider’s view of the man and his work from his longtime friend and fellow poet Sam Hunt. With a range of familiar and lesser-known poems dating from 1945 to 1972, and a substantial essay by Hunt, this compilation offers a fresh and very personal look at the work of an extraordinarily influential poet.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverNga tau ki muri = Our future / Ans Westra.
“This timely and visionary new book includes 137 Westra photographs of the New Zealand landscape, with text contributions from Hone Tuwhare, Russel Norman, Brian Turner, David Eggleton and David Lange, who wrote a short piece for Ans as part of an unreaslied book project in 1987. Well known for her iconic black and white documentation of Maori culture, Ans Westra is also known for her colour works, which show concern for New Zealand’s destiny, “an island exploited by various waves of settlement”. Shot with Ans’ trusty Rolleiflex camera, the sometimes damning images in Our Future have been made over the last 20 years. “The purpose of the book is to give a directive to the country, an awareness of things changed and lost within its short history. If we don’t plan for the long term and keep taking stop-gap measures, we leave very little behind. Instead of becoming like the rest of the world, this beautiful place should become a shining example of hope for survival in a newly balanced environment. Ans Westra.” (Syndetics summary)

The New Zealand Collection Presents: This Week in History 19th – 25th April

The historic alliance made in 1936 between Rātana and the Labour Party that was to greatly influence the Māori seats is highlighted this week. This week’s selected topic comes from the Today in History page at nzhistory.net.nz. The New Zealand Collection is located on the second floor of The Central Library. Each week we feature topics in the This Week in History display in the NZ Collection and using available databases and the library collections to illustrate and provide additional information. This week part two of a two part blog about the establishment of the first four Māori seats.

22nd April 1936 Rātana and Labour Seal Alliance

Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana
Raine, William Hall, 1892-1955. Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana – Photograph taken by William Hall Raine. Dominion post (Newspaper) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers. Ref: EP-NZ Obits-Ra to Rd-01. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23028785

The alliance between the Rātana Church and the Labour Party was cemented at an historic meeting between Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana and Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage on 22 April 1936. The links will take you to the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography pages that can also be accessed from the library My Gateway page for more details about these two men.

Michael Savage
Michael Joseph Savage. Original photographic prints and postcards from file print collection, Box 1. Ref: PAColl-5471-055. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23043767

In 1928 T.W. Rātana announced his intention to enter politics, referring to the four Māori seats as the ‘four quarters’ of his body. He aimed to win these seats through the voting power of his followers, by 1934 said to number 40,000.

In 1932 Eruera Tirikātene became the first Rātana MP when he won a by-election for Southern Maori. He was instructed to support the Labour opposition. Rātana favoured the Labour Party because it had consulted his supporters when devising its Māori policy. When Labour won a landslide election victory in 1935 the Rātana movement took a second seat, Western Maori.

At the 1936 meeting Rātana presented Savage with four symbolic gifts. Three huia feathers, representing Māori, protruded from a potato, which symbolised the land taken from Māori, leaving them unable to grow the staple crop. A pounamu (jade) hei tiki represented Māori mana (prestige), which had also been lost. A broken gold watch handed down to Rātana by his grandfather represented the broken promises of the Crown. A pin with a star and crescent moon was the symbol of the Rātana Church, Tohu o te Māramatanga. It is said that these items had such a profound impact on Savage that when he died in 1940 they were buried with him.

In 1943 the Rātana–Labour alliance succeeded in capturing all ‘four quarters’ when Tiaki Omana defeated Sir Āpirana Ngata for the Eastern Maori seat. Labour was to hold all the Māori seats until 1993.

Rātana Temple
Ratana temple. Godber, Albert Percy, 1875-1949 :Collection of albums, prints and negatives. Ref: 1/2-018648-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23113205

Here is an image of a Rātana membership card with the inscription, “He kororia, he honore, hareruia kia “Ihoa”, Matua, Tama, Wairua Tapu, me nga Anahera Pono – Te Area – Te Omeka – Piri Wiri Tua – Hamuera, me Te Kahui Ariki Wairua i raro ia Ratou, mo Te Mangai hei tautoko ake nei: – Ae”

Ratana Members Card
[Ratana Pa] :He kororia, he honore, hareruia kia “Ihoa”, Matua, Tama, Wairua Tapu, me nga Anahera Pono … Puke-Marama, Ringa-Kaha, Hanuere 25, 1937. He paahi tenei e whakaae ana ahau [Whakapae Tamou] kia [hoata?] te Kororia te Honore … Na T. W Ratana-Mangai-Piri Tua [1937]. Ref: Eph-A-MAORI-Ratana-1937-01. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/32963413

Here are some links to Papers Past articles about Tahupotiki-Wiremu-Ratana and the Rātana Church from 1920 and about the Southern Māori By-Election and Rātana Revisted 1924 two years after reports of his first miracles.

Syndetics book coverRatana : the prophet / Keith Newman. Throughout history, certain individuals with a rare passion for justice and a gift of insight have been able to rally and motivate people through periods of great social change, sometimes defying all odds and being greatly misunderstood in the process.Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana was such a man, called to prominence at a pivotal time, with a message for the Māori people and for the wider world. After a profound vision he became a healer of people’s physical ailments and a lifter of ancient curses; and he was also a leader in healing the ‘land sickness’ of the Māori, after decades of land confiscation by the Government and the Crown.As founder of the Rātana Church and the Rātana movement, he led his followers in the quest to unite all Māori under one God, and to restore the Treaty of Waitangi as the founding document of the nation, giving Māori equal rights to British citizens.Ratana – The Prophet, based on some 20 years of research, distils for a general audience the extraordinary depth of T. W. Rātana’s political, spiritual and social legacy.

Ratana : the Maori miracle man : the story of his life : the record of his miracles / by “Rongoa Pai”.