Waitakere City Council
Waitakere is an Eco City

Turn up the volume on Waitakere's oral traditions


Come in and listen to Waitakere stories

Waitakere City's oral history collection is now available in the J.T. Diamond Reading Room, Level 2, Waitakere Central Library, Henderson. The collection contains over 200 recordings containing stories of the Waitakere area. In the earliest recording, Elizabeth Baille (nee Malam) talks about growing up in Te Atatu in the late 1800s. The most recent interview was recorded in June 2007 with Ralph Hadden. Ralph talks of his work at the NZBC transmitter station in Selwood Road, Henderson. He recalls joining the New Zealand Broadcasting's transmitter station staff as a trainee in 1940, talks about changing technologies and shares anecdotal stories. In 1981, Ralph retired as senior technician and supervisor of the Waiatarua Television and Radio Transmitter Station.

Note: You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view and print this document.  For help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful Tips.

Oral Histories Collection Inventory (Size 28K)
A catalogue for the oral history collection is currently under development. Click on the link above for a preliminary inventory

 

Would you like to record someone's memories? We have equipment for loan:

Do you know people with interesting stories to tell? Waitakere Library and Information Services has oral history equipment available for loan. We offer support and assistance for Waitakere Library members who wish to record West Auckland stories. All enquires in the first instance should be made to Raewynn Robertson, Local History Librarian or any Local History staff in the J.T. Diamond Reading Room, Level 2, Waitakere Central Library. Phone 09 839 2260 or e-mail: localhistory@waitakere.govt.nz

Local history resources

The collection includes:

  • Books
  • Archives
  • Manuscripts
  • Maps and plans
  • Memorabilia and ephemera
  • Local Newspapers including the Western Leader
  • Photographs
  • Research files
  • Appendices to the Journals of the House of Representatives from 1860

 Please contact us.

 

 

All material © 2008 Waitakere City Council | Home | Legal | Glossary |