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Film: Queen's visit to Waitomo Caves and Karapiro, 1954
Film clip: visit to Waitomo Caves and Karapiro
Still shots and description
The Royal couple walk through the bush and up into the caves. Then we cut to the hydro dam powerhouse where the couple are shown how it all works.
Commentary:
'That New Zealand's interest is not confined to history and [?] alone the Queen was now to discover for herself as she explores Waitomo. We follow her as she reaches its famous limestone caves - a strange ageless world draped in a delicate tracery of stalactites, perhaps the finest spectacle of her entire Commonwealth tour.
The Karapiro Dam is an example of state hydroelectric enterprise, one of then great stations planned for the harnessing of the Waikato - the dominion's longest river. One million horsepower is the ultimate aim. The Duke sums it up accurately in sign language'. [shows Duke demonstrating rushing water. ]
Credit:
Archives New Zealand
The Royal Tour of New Zealand, 1953–54 (National Film Unit)
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GoogleHow to cite this page: 'Film: Queen's visit to Waitomo Caves and Karapiro, 1954', URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/video/queens-visit-to-waitomo-caves-and-karapiro, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 10-Jan-2012
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