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April 1913: This month last century

30 April 2013 – 5.34pm

100 years ago HMS New Zealand arrives in New Zealand (12 April 1913)

Model of the battlecruiser HMS New Zealand, 1955 - 1959, New Zealand. T. Devitt. Gift of the Wellington Marine Model Club, 1959. Te Papa

Model of the battlecruiser HMS New Zealand, 1955 – 1959, New Zealand. T. Devitt. Gift of the Wellington Marine Model Club, 1959. Te Papa.

In March 1909, New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward announced that ‘the Dominion’ (New Zealand) was offering ‘the Motherland’ (Britain) the ‘free gift of … a first-class battleship’.

The Prime Minister thought that his offer to pay for a ship would allow New Zealanders to take ‘much greater pride and interest’ in the Empire’s defence. This proved to be enormously popular in New Zealand, and Parliament authorised the expenditure of up to £2 million on the ‘gift ship’.

The ship’s construction began in early 1910, and was completed in November 1912, having been given the name HMS New Zealand in 1911. 

HMS New Zealand in a terrific gale, 1910s. Maker unknown. Te Papa

HMS New Zealand in a terrific gale, 1910s. Maker unknown. Te Papa

Her ‘thank you’ visit to New Zealand, during April and May 1913, was a triumph. The medal below was made to commemorate the occasion. Huge crowds flocked to see her – at Wellington on 16 April alone, over 15,000 people went aboard. She called at most of New Zealand’s major ports, where her visits inspired impressive demonstrations of patriotic fervour.

Medal commemorating the visit of H.M.S. New Zealand, 1913. New Zealand. William Rose Bok, Te Papa

Medal commemorating the visit of H.M.S. New Zealand, 1913. New Zealand. William Rose Bock, Te Papa

HMS New Zealand participated in several major naval battles during WWI. In 1919, she made another, farewell visit to New Zealand. The presentation casket (below) was presented to the wife of the Governor General at a ball that was held in the Wellington Town Hall to commemorate the event.

Presentation casket, circa 1919, New Zealand. Maker unknown. Purchased 2012. Te Papa

Presentation casket, circa 1919, New Zealand. Maker unknown. Purchased 2012. Te Papa.

Read Leslie Adkin’s enthusiastic diary entry about his visit to HMS New Zealand on Collections Online

Follow HMS New Zealand’s journey on the Auckland War Memorial Museum’s website

Read about New Zealand’s imperial loyalties and contributions to imperial defence in the 1900s and 1910s on the Slice of Heaven exhibition mini-site.

See objects in Te Papa’s collections related to HMS New Zealand

Posted in Collections Online, Exhibitions, History, Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Kiwi Faces of World War I – Anzac Day update. We have reached over 60 identifications!

24 April 2013 – 2.36pm

To mark Anzac Day tomorrow, here is an update on our ‘Kiwi Faces of World War I’ soldier identficiation project.

We now identified more than 60 men out of the 110 World War One soldiers who were photographed by the Wellington photography studio Berry & Co.

Most of these identifications have been based on detective work using military personnel files, historical newspapers, and genealogical sources such as births, deaths, and marriages data. Lately we’ve been very grateful for the help received from Allan Dodson.

Burch 12/10, circa 1920, Wellington. Berry & Co. Purchased 1998 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa

Burch 12/10, circa 1920, Wellington. Berry & Co. Purchased 1998 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa

Allan has been trying to confirm the identity of the soldier (above and below) whose name is recorded as ‘Burch’ on two glass plate negatives. Our dilemma is that there were 12 men with the surname Burch who served in the NZEF:

Our two most likely contenders are James Burch, and George Robert Burch – with George Robert, a 37-year-old Master Plumber from Wellington, the more likely.

Burch 12 12/10, circa 1920, Wellington. Berry & Co. Purchased 1998 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa

Burch 12 12/10, circa 1920, Wellington. Berry & Co. Purchased 1998 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa

The criteria we have used to get to this shortlist of two are:

  • the collar and hat badge, which indicate service in the 34th Reinforcements onward but not with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, which had its own badge
  • the absence of any rank on the uniform, which indicates that at the time of the photo ‘Burch’ would have been a private
  • an indication that ‘Burch’ is a more mature man in his late twenties to early thirties
  • and an indication that he has light hair and possibly blue eyes

Te Papa would like to hear from anyone who can help us confirm that this is George Robert Burch’s portrait. Contact details are on Te Papa’s Collections Online database and on our ‘Kiwi Faces of World War I’ Flickr site.  We’d also like to know if their are photographs of the other Burch men, as these will help us to definitely eliminate them from the running.

Read about the start of our WWI soldier identification project on Te Papa’s blog.

Posted in Collections Online, History, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (4)

March 1940 – This month last century

29 March 2013 – 2.21pm

73 years ago Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage dies (27 March 1940)

Mickey Savage, as many New Zealanders fondly referred to him, was the country’s first Labour Prime Minister.

Autograph album, 1930s, New Zealand. Maker unknown,compiled by Benjamin Roberts. Gift of anonymous donors, 2007. Te Papa

Autograph album, 1930s, New Zealand. Maker unknown,compiled by Benjamin Roberts. Gift of anonymous donors, 2007. Te Papa

Australian-born Savage had arrived in New Zealand in 1907. He became the Labour MP for Auckland Central electorate in 1919.

Labour’s win 16 years later was a response to the hardship of the Great Depression and the limitations of private charity. The party won 55 seats out of a total of 80 and, as its leader, Savage became Prime Minister.

Under Savage, Labour promised more humane policies – ‘applied Christianity’ – and the right to a decent standard of living for all. The means to this ‘cradle to grave’ welfare philosophy was realised through Social Security legislation. 

Shortly after it was introduced, in August 1938, Savage collapsed. Emergency surgery revealed cancer of the colon. In just 19 months, the 68-year-old had succumbed to the disease.

After lying in state in Wellington, Savage’s body was taken by train to Auckland; around 200,000 people lined the route up to his grave at Bastion Point.

Michael Joseph Savage was probably New Zealand’s most beloved Prime Minister. Many felt a deep personal connection to him. His memorial gained special significance for those who lived through the Depression and found hope in Savage’s vision of New Zealand.

Read more about Savage’s life on the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography

Learn about the 1938 Social Security legislation

Go to the Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa exhibition website to see more about New Zealand governments and their social welfare policies

Posted in Collections Online, History, Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

February 1943: This month last century

28 February 2013 – 3.37pm

70 years ago, 48 Japanese prisoners of war are killed during a riot at the Featherston prisoner of war camp (25 February 1943)

From 1942, Japanese prisoners of war were brought to New Zealand and interned at the camp at Featherston, in the Wairarapa. This camp had previously been used as a military training camp during WWI.

Carved and painted wooden model of an alligator. 1945, New Zealand. Maker unknown. Purchased 2012. Te Papa

Carved and painted wooden model of an alligator. 1945, New Zealand. Maker unknown. Purchased 2012. Te Papa

The carved alligator (above) was made by an unknown prisoner at one of the camp’s so-called ‘hobby huts’. The other item (shown below) is an example of one of the tokens used at the camp. These tokens, plus craftwork made and bartered by the prisoners, were used to procure goods, as legal currency was not permitted in the camp.

Internment Camp token, Five Shillings. 1941 - 1945, Australia. R. Arendeen & Sons Pty Ltd. Gift of the New Zealand Army, 1946. Te Papa

Internment Camp token, Five Shillings. 1941 – 1945, Australia. R. Arendeen & Sons Pty Ltd. Gift of the New Zealand Army, 1946. Te Papa

The Japanese prisoners also had to work for ‘the enemy’ while they were incarcerated. This included vegetable-growing, furniture-making and shifting rocks. This work caused some prisoners considerable shame. On 25 February 1943, around 240 of them staged a sit down strike to protest against being made to work.

In the confusion and rioting that followed, prisoners began throwing stones and guards opened fire. As a result 48 Japanese prisoners and a New Zealand guard were killed. The other New Zealand guards were absolved of any wrong-doing at a military enquiry the following month. The court’s finding were not accepted by the Japanese Government.

This fatal event occurred when Japan was depicted as a threatening enemy in popular culture and print media (see poster below). However, war-time censorship and fears of retaliation helped to keep news of the clash from being widely circulated in the press.

Poster, ’The Rising Sun Must Set’, 1942, Wellington. New Zealand National Savings Committee. Gift of Mr C H Andrews, 1967. Te Papa

Poster, ’The Rising Sun Must Set’, 1942, Wellington. New Zealand National Savings Committee. Gift of Mr C H Andrews, 1967. Te Papa

Go to Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand for further details about the 1943 incident at Featherston

Read more about the New Zealand home front during World War Two on the Slice of Heaven website

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January 1900 – This month last century

30 January 2013 – 5.31pm

St Joseph’s Home for Incurable opens 113 years ago (29 January 1900)

This home for so-called ‘incurables’, in Buckle Street, Wellington, was an initiative set up by Reverend Mother Mary Joseph Aubert, with the help of Catholic nuns, the Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion. Mother Aubert was the founder of this religious congregation, in 1892.

Prior to her work in Wellington with urban poor, she had gained notice for work in rural areas, especially with Maori in the Whanganui. This French-born nun was also well-versed in the use of Maori medicinal practices and herbs and had manufactured her own medicines, like the one shown below.

’Paramo’ medicinal preparation in box, circa 1895, Wanganui. Mother Mary Aubert. Gift of The Sisters of Our Lady's Home of Compassion, Island Bay, 1990. Te Papa

’Paramo’ medicinal preparation in box, circa 1895, Wanganui. Mother Mary Aubert. Gift of The Sisters of Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, Island Bay, 1990. Te Papa

Her new venture began with 11 beds for men and women. From 1901, a soup kitchen was being run from the premises. Then, in November 1903 a crèche opened in nearby cottages for the babies of working mothers.

In October 1903, an article in the Evening Post called the Home a ‘resting place for the decrepit, the unfit, the unfit, the maimed people the outside world has no use for’. Mother Aubert and her Sisters were praised for their dedication ‘to lift[ing] fallen humanity from the slough of the world, no matter how they got there’.

Old men's home, Ashburton, New Zealand. Muir & Moodie, Te Papa

Old men’s home, Ashburton, New Zealand. Muir & Moodie, Te Papa

The Home, which depended on public donations, was the first of its kind to open in New Zealand. A reliance on private charity was normal for many other similar institutions, such as the one shown above.

Although the Old Age Pensions Act had been passed in November 1898, it was not until after 1935 that the New Zealand government became the main provider of social welfare.

Find out more about on the government’s changing role in the lives and welfare of New Zealanders on the Slice of Heaven exhibition website

View a television clip to discover more about Mother Aubert and her medicines

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December 1941: This month last century

28 December 2012 – 12.34pm

Seventy one years ago, New Zealand declares war on Japan after the bombing of the US naval bases at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii (8 December 1941)

The bombing of Pearl Harbour set the Pacific War in motion. This event and Japan’s subsequent expansion through the Philippines, Thailand and the Malaysian peninsula, followed by the capture of the strategic British naval base at Singapore in February 1942 and the bombing of Darwin in northern Australia, intensified fears that New Zealand would also be attacked.

Jigsaw puzzle, ’The Riddle of the Pacific’, 1944, New Zealand. J W Ltd. Gift of Alison Hutton, 2008. Te Papa

Jigsaw puzzle, ’The Riddle of the Pacific’, 1944, New Zealand. J W Ltd. Gift of Alison Hutton, 2008. Te Papa

Home defence efforts intensified, while negative attitudes towards Japanese surfaced in benign every day objects, including parlour games, such as the puzzle shown above.

By 1941, the bulk of New Zealand troops had been posted to North Africa, one of the battle fronts shown of this comical map.

Poster, ’Berlin’, 1941, United Kingdom. Maker unknown. Gift of Mr C H Andrews, 1967. Te Papa

Poster, ’Berlin’, 1941, United Kingdom. Maker unknown. Gift of Mr C H Andrews, 1967. Te Papa

The leaders of New Zealand, the USA and Great Britain came to an agreement that they would stay there while American troops were deployed to the Pacific. New Zealand would be used as their base for staging operations as well as training, picking up supplies and ‘R&R’ (rest and recreation) for troops.

Tens of thousands of Americans found themselves living in camps in New Zealand between June 1942 and mid-1944. Crown Lynn manufactured virtually indestructible plates, mugs and bowls, like this one, for the Americans to use while they were there.

Bowl, circa 1943, Auckland. Crown Lynn Potteries Ltd. Purchased 1995. Te Papa

Bowl, circa 1943, Auckland. Crown Lynn Potteries Ltd. Purchased 1995. Te Papa

Many of the camps were located near main centres of population, and troops came into regular with locals who provided home comforts, and hospitality and entertainment in venues like the club in the photo, which was set up by the Red Cross in Masterton. This club’s cafeteria catered to American tastes by adding hamburgers and cheeseburgers on its menu.

American Red Cross Service Club, Masterton, 1939 - 1945, Wellington. Gordon H. Burt, Te Papa

American Red Cross Service Club, Masterton, 1939 – 1945, Wellington. Gordon H. Burt, Te Papa

Romance often blossomed between New Zealand women and the glamorous visitors. Around 1500 women married an American sweetheart. Ada Menzies might have been included this number, except that her American fiancé, First Lieutenant Hugh Leidel, died from wounds at Tarawa in the Pacific in November 1943 – a month after their engagement.

’Sweetheart’ brooch, early 1940s. Maker unknown. Gift of Philip Menzies in memory of Ada Menzies, 2012. Te Papa

’Sweetheart’ brooch, early 1940s. Maker unknown. Gift of Philip Menzies in memory of Ada Menzies, 2012. Te Papa

Hugh may have given Ada this brooch, featuring an optimistic ‘V’ for victory, while they were courting. It remained amongst her possessions until her death.

The influence of the wartime ‘invasion’ by the Americans on popular culture and international politics also continued long after the troops had departed from New Zealand.

Read more about the impact of the USA on 1950s New Zealand on the Slice of Heaven exhibition website.

Find out more about New Zealand at home during WWII on the Slice of Heaven exhibition website.

Go to NZHistory.net.nz which covers the Americans invasion during WWII in detail.

Posted in Collections Online, Exhibitions, History, Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

This month last century: November 1919

21 November 2012 – 7.40pm

93 years ago the first health camp opens at Turakina (25 November 1919)

New Zealand’s first health camp was founded by Dr Elizabeth Gunn.  The first group of 55 children stayed in tents for three weeks. Gunn had been a military doctor, and brought this experience with her to the running of the camps.

Poster, ’Help promote Health!’, 1930, Wellington. W.A.G. Skinner, Government Printer. Purchased 2001. Te Papa

Poster, ’Help promote Health!’, 1930, Wellington. W.A.G. Skinner, Government Printer. Purchased 2001. Te Papa

The camp was set up to boost the physical welfare of children, believed to be in danger of degeneration in the early decades of the twentieth century. The health camp idea spread around the country.

Otaki Health Camp children, 1945. From the portfolio: PhotoForum - John Pascoe, 1945, Otaki. John Pascoe.

Otaki Health Camp children, 1945. From the portfolio: PhotoForum - John Pascoe, 1945, Otaki. John Pascoe.

In the 1930s, their administration was taken over the government. The camps were a plank in social security legislation implemented by the First Labour Government.

Publicity photograph for Health stamps, 1931, Wellington. Gordon H. Burt Ltd, Maker unknown. Te Papa

Publicity photograph for Health stamps, 1931, Wellington. Gordon H. Burt Ltd, Maker unknown. Te Papa

Stamps to raise funds for the camps have been sold since 1929. Many of the stamps were designed by notable commercial artists and feature strong  graphic elements.

Read more about early 20th century concerns for the health and welfare of  children on the Slice of Heaven exhibition website.

See Te Papa’s collection of Health stamp posters on Collections online

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October 1935: This month last century

31 October 2012 – 11.36am

77 years ago the distribution of free milk to 5500 primary school children in Auckland begins (14 October 1935)

 This world first began as a temporary measure in Auckland for primary school children up to Standard 4 (year 6). The experiment, paid for the Auckland City Council, was closely watched by the government.

Initially, over 1500 litres of milk was distributed each day to 18 schools in the city.

Milk bottle, unknown, New Zealand. Maker unknown. Gift of the Guard Family, 1993. Te Papa

Milk bottle, unknown, New Zealand. Maker unknown. Gift of the Guard Family, 1993. Te Papa

Each child received half a pint (just under 300ml) of pasteurised milk in a glass bottle, like the one pictured above, with a cardboard lid. The lids had holes in them for drinking straws. Later the caps often carried promotional messages such as ‘Make a good start. Drink milk every morning’ and  ‘Full Marks to Pasteurised Milk’.

The free milk scheme was prompted by concerns about the low rate of consumption of milk, which meant that New Zealanders were degenerating into ‘a  B grade people’, according to Dr E B Gunson. Depression conditions and the associated poor diets and health of children were also causing anxiety.

This pilot scheme in Auckland was launched just before the election of the first Labour Government (led by Prime Minister Michael Savage, below), which became synonymous with the implementation of universal social security initiatives.

Autograph album, 1930s, New Zealand. Maker unknown, Roberts, Benjamin. Gift of anonymous donors, 2007. Te Papa

Autograph album, 1930s, New Zealand. Maker unknown, Roberts, Benjamin. Gift of anonymous donors, 2007. Te Papa

Concerned with creating equal access for New Zealanders to basic health, education and welfare, this government made free milk available to all New Zealand primary school children in 1937. This was complemented by other health measures for children such as free dental care at school dental clinics. School dental nurses continued to stress the importance of milk in children’s diets.

The school milk scheme continued under successful governments, both National and Labour, until October 1967.

Read more about the government’s involvement in children’s health, the Depression and social welfare measures on the Slice of Heaven website

See nzhistory.net.nz for more details about the school milk scheme

Read more about the beginning of the school dental clinics and nurse on previous Te Papa’s blog

Posted in Collections Online, Exhibitions, History, Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

September 1907 – this month last century

28 September 2012 – 10.51am

105 years ago New Zealand becomes a Dominion (26 September 1907)

At 11am, 26 September 1907, New Zealand officially moved up in the ranks in the British Empire. On that day it became a Dominion instead of a Colony. That night, electric illuminations on buildings in the capital proclaimed this auspicious and historical moment.

Dominion Day - Government Buildings at night, 25.09.1907, Wellington. Maker unknown. Te Papa

Dominion Day – Government Buildings at night, 25.09.1907, Wellington. Maker unknown. Te Papa

Although public servants were given a holiday and children were presented with a special medal to commemorate the event, this change did not translate into any significant changes to everyday life in New Zealand.

Dominion Day parade, 25.09.1907. Photographed by Frederick Brockett (1881-1956). Te Papa

Dominion Day parade, 25.09.1907. Photographed by Frederick Brockett (1881-1956). Te Papa

And despite military parades and flag raising ceremonies, many people did not comprehend the differences between begin a Colony and Dominion. The change was more of a political initiative, motivated by perceptions – perceptions that within the Empire, Dominions were superior to Colonies.

There’s more about New Zealand becoming a Dominion on nzhistory.net.nz

Learn about New Zealand and its colonial attachment to Great Britain in the 1900s on the Slice of Heaven exhibition website

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August 1914: This month last century

29 August 2012 – 4.56pm

98 years ago New Zealand troops land at Apia, German Samoa (29 August 1914)

Ten days after New Zealand entered the war in Europe, it sent troops to occupy German Samoa. This force of almost 1400 men was specifically charged with seizing the colony’s wireless transmitter.

The troops that landed at Apia experienced no resistance from the Germans stationed there. James Jessen, below, was a member of this ‘Samoan Advance Party’. He was later killed on the Western Front.

John Jessen, 1914, Wellington. Berry & Co. Purchased 1998 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa

John Jessen, 1914, Wellington. Berry & Co. Purchased 1998 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa

The day after the New Zealand force arrived, the British occupation was formally proclaimed, with a British Union Jack raised on the Apia Court House flag pole (below).

Ceremony held in Apia, Samoa, 1914, Samoa. Thomas Andrew, photographer. Te Papa

Ceremony held in Apia, Samoa, 1914, Samoa. Thomas Andrew, photographer. Te Papa

 A German colony since December 1899, German Samoa was the second of Germany’s colonial possessions to be occupied after the declaration of the European war (as WWI was first known). The poster below lists others occupied territories.

Poster, ’German Colonial Possessions’, 1915, United Kingdom. Johnson Riddle & Co. Ltd. Gift of Department of Defence, 1919. Te Papa

Poster, ’German Colonial Possessions’, 1915, United Kingdom. Johnson Riddle & Co. Ltd. Gift of Department of Defence, 1919. Te Papa

The New Zealand military administered Samoa for the duration of the First World War although, from April 1915, the number of men garrisoned there was reduced to 250. Many were over the maximum age for military service. Others, like Eric Marchant (below), were deemed unfit for service on the Western Front.

Eric Marchant, Eric, 1918, Wellington. Berry & Co. Purchased 1998 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa

Eric Marchant, Eric, 1918, Wellington. Berry & Co. Purchased 1998 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa

While Captain James Fleck was stationed there, he had a chance to collect a number of Samoan artefacts, including the adzes pictured below. This was following a suggestion by ethnographer Elsdon Best.

To’i ma’a (hafted adzes, Samoa. Te Papa

At the end of the war, New Zealand was mandated by the League of Nations to govern Western Samoa. New Zealand continued its administration when Western Samoa it became a United Nations Trust Territory in 1946. This situation lasted until 1962, when Samoa gained its independent and signed the Treaty of Friendship with New Zealand.

There are more details about the New Zealand occupation and political administration of Samoa on nzhistory.net.nz

Read more about WWI servicemen who were photographed by Berry & Co, a Wellington studio photography firm

Go to the Slice of Heaven exhibition website  to learn about New Zealand’s participation in the First World War.

Posted in Collections Online, Exhibitions, Pacific, Photography, Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)
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