Latest added media

Harry Holland in 1922

admin — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:59:06 +1200

Harry Holland, leader of the Labour Party and MP for Buller, in 1922.

Electors queuing to vote, 1960

admin — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:52:27 +1200

Electors queue to vote at the Wellington Town Hall on 26 November 1960. Note the folding wooden screens and dustbin-style metal ballot box.

At this time popular participation in New Zealand's electoral system was extremely high by international standards – between 1946 and 1963 voter turnout ranged from 89.1 to 93.5 percent.

National Party poster, 1960

admin — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:38:09 +1200

This National Party poster featuring Keith Holyoake, with its emphasis on perennial election themes of leadership and honesty, is from the party's successful 1960 campaign.

Labour Party poster, 1957

admin — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:12:20 +1200

After eight years in opposition, Labour won a narrow victory in the 1957 election. But despite this poster's smiling vision of universal prosperity, voters would turn their backs on Labour three years later.

Labour Party poster, 1938

admin — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:45:20 +1200

This Labour Party poster from 1938 is notable for its use of bold colours, striking design and simple message.

Gordon Coates Reform Party poster

admin — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:15:07 +1200

This Reform Party poster from 1925 illustrates the influence of commercial advertising techniques in its focus on Prime Minister Gordon Coates, use of visual images and reliance on simple slogans rather than detailed policy statements.

Robert Muldoon campaigning, 1981

admin — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:05:30 +1200

The 1975, 1978 and 1981 election campaigns were largely dominated by the self-assured, combative presence of National Party leader Robert Muldoon. One of the relatively few New Zealand politicians who appeared comfortable in television during the 1970s, he was equally adept at addressing large or small public meetings, even when faced with a hostile audience – as in this photograph, taken in Upper Hutt during the bitterly contested 1981 campaign.

National Party poster, 1946

admin — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:57:40 +1200

The National opposition led by Sidney Holland came close to victory at the general election on 27 November 1946, but voters did not yet agree that it was 'time to change the government'.

John A Lee in 1938

admin — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:51:33 +1200

Labour’s John A. Lee, seen here at the microphone during the 1938 campaign, was among the first politicians to exploit the huge potential of radio broadcasting as an electioneering medium.

Liberal and Labour Federation poster

admin — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:39:12 +1200

The Liberal and Labour Federation, established by Premier Richard Seddon in 1899 to raise campaign funds, supervise the selection of local candidates and promote a consistent nationwide Liberal platform, is generally considered to have been New Zealand's first organised political party.

1853 electoral poster

admin — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:32:29 +1200

New Zealand's wide electoral franchise is reflected in this poster's appeal to 'workingmen' to vote for Wakelin, 'The Poor Man's Friend', in Wellington's 1853 elections.

'Liberal' candidate's poster, 1853

admin — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:24:24 +1200

Although there were no organised political parties in New Zealand until the 1890s, many candidates - like John Wallace in this 1853 poster - were keen to identify themselves as 'Liberals', 'Progressives' or 'Radicals'. In this way they could imply that their opponents were 'Conservatives', an unpopular label in the democratic world of colonial politics.

Wellington crowds on election night, 1931

admin — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:10:46 +1200

A vast crowd outside the Evening Post office in Willis Street, Wellington, on the night of the 1931 general election.

Mossburn war memorial

admin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:52:55 +1200

Mossburn war memorial.

Jock Phillips, May 2008.

Find our more about the people listed on this memorial from Auckland Museum's Cenotaph database

Dipton war memorial

admin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:10:58 +1200

Dipton war memorial.

Information from Vince Boyle:

Limehills memorial

admin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:57:01 +1200

Limehills war memorial.

Further information from Vince Boyle:

Limehills memorial was restored by local folk about 2002. It was masked by a hedge but that was removed to reveal the simple column surrounded by concrete steps.

Ryal Bush memorial

admin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:29:59 +1200

Ryal Bush war memorial.

Further information from Vince Boyle:

Clifden war memorial

admin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:15:19 +1200

Clifden war memorial plaque on viaduct.

Jock Phillips, May 2008.

Find our more about the people listed on this memorial from Auckland Museum's Cenotaph database

Nightcaps war memorial

admin — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:09:03 +1200

Nightcaps First World War memorial.

Information from Vince Boyle:

Originally this memorial was in the form of twin pillars at the local school (erected in the 1920s). When the school was abandoned in the 1960s the marble pillars with the names were moved by the Lions Club of Ohai Nightcaps to a nearby playground the club had established on SH96 in the township.

Drummond war memorial

admin — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:36:37 +1200

Athol war memorial

admin — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:52:56 +1200

The First World War Roll of Honour in the Athol District Memorial Hall.

Information from Richard Soper:

Inside the Athol Hall in Southland is a wall-mounted memorial for those who served in the First World War. On going through the minutes of the Hall Committee it seems that it was shifted from the Presbyterian Church in June 1958, two years after the hall was built.

Richard Soper, June 2008

Menzies Ferry war memorial

admin — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:12:42 +1200

Menzies Ferry war memorial.

Information from Vince Boyle: Menzies Ferry is 8km south of Edendale. The Soldiers' Memorial was built in the school grounds, probably in 1922.

Jock Phillips, May 2008.

Mataura Island war memorial

admin — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:54:31 +1200

Mataura Island war memorial.

Jock Phillips, May 2008.

Waimahaka war memorial

admin — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:37:27 +1200

Waimahaka war memorial.

Information from Vince Boyle:

The Waimahaka memorial is located 18km south of Edendale. It was erected in 1962 but was possibly not the first one in the district (ref: A High Point of Vantage by Marjory A Smith P 95)

Jock Phillips, May 2008.

Quarry Hills war memorial

admin — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:49:02 +1200

Quarry Hills war memorial.

Jock Phillips, May 2008.

Find our more about the people listed on this memorial from Auckland Museum's Cenotaph database

Riverton South African War memorial

admin — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:58:36 +1200

Riverton South African (Boer) War memorial. The memorial was designed and erected by the Italian stonemason Carlo Bergamini who was also responsible for South African War memorials at Palmerston, Waimate, Oamaru and Dunedin.

Jock Phillips, May 2008

Minnie Dean

Jamie M — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:19:05 +1200

The notorious baby farmer Minnie Dean is photographed here at the time of her marriage in 1872 (when she was aged 28). Minnie's husband, Charles, was arrested along with her in 1895, but all charges against him were subsequently dropped.

New Zealand Graphic

Police search Minnie Dean's garden

Jamie M — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:07:56 +1200

Following Minnie Dean's arrest in May 1895, police undertook a search of her garden at The Larches, near Winton. They unearthed the recently buried bodies of two babies and the skeleton of an older boy (whom she later claimed had drowned).

New Zealand Graphic

Minnie Dean music video still

Jamie M — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:57:47 +1200

More than a century after her murder case stunned the nation, the legend of Minnie Dean lives on in New Zealand's popular culture. This still image is taken from the music video to the song 'Minnie Dean' by Invercargill-born (but now Los Angeles-based) singer-songwriter Helen Henderson. An actor playing Dean can be seen walking down a supposed Southland railway line. While the scenery could pass for New Zealand, the video was actually filmed in Pasadena, California.

Salvation Army Boys' Home in Eltham

Jamie M — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:18:22 +1200

Salvation Army homes were the only option for many 19th-century orphans and abandonded children. Institutional life could be highly regimented: in this image residents of the Salvation Army Boys' Home in Eltham line up to salute a visitor to the institution in the 1890s.

Reports of the Minnie Dean case

Jamie M — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:48:20 +1200

These newspaper reports cover the arrest and sensational murder trial of Minnie Dean in 1895. By the time of the second report, on 21 June, all of the charges against Minnie's husband, Charles Dean, had been dismissed.

Minnie Dean was executed on 12 August 1895.

Execution of Minnie Dean

Jamie M — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:32:06 +1200

Newspaper report of the execution of Minnie Dean on 12 August 1895

Evening Post, 12 August 1895; made available through the Paperspast website

Vietnam mascots

Jamie M — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:32:02 +1200

Mascots have long been a part of the military, and Vietnam was no exception. Here medical team members from the army, navy and air force can be seen holding their puppy mascots.

The mother of the pups was a stray dog adopted by members of the 1st New Zealand Armed Services medical team hospital and named 'Kiwi'.

This photograph was taken at the NZ Armed Services medical team hospital at Bong Son, South Vietnam, in 1970.