New Zealand Memories Issue 179

New Zealand Memories Issue 179

April-May 2026

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Contents

Acts of Kindness
In 1948, a flood forced people to evacuate their homes and head to Makaraka where the community came together to help those in need.

Ōtāhuhu’s Westfield freezing works: Memories of a Great Industry
Between the 50s-70s some 6,000 local men and women worked at either Hellabys Shortland, Westfield Freezing Company or Southdown.

Just a Story
David Hill writes about well known New Zealand  author - Maurice Gee and his grandfather James Chapple.

A Five Year Old’s Memories of World War Two in Dunedin
W. J .Cowan share his memories of life in Christchurch during World War Two.

Operation Silver Screen 
A New Zealand airman’s role in Operation Silver Screen as one of the crew of a Wellington bomber, F-Freddie, in a war time film.

The Railway Refreshment Rooms – Undignified Scenes
Alison McKee takes a look back at New Zealand Railway’s refreshment options of yesteryear.

Twister hits Frankton
Judith Le Clerc Wallath speaks of a narrow escape from the Twister of 1948, in Frankton Junction.

Objects Out of Time and Place
The origins of the Tamil Bell found by Reverend William Colenso in 1836 which remain a mystery to this day.

Self Help kept Grocery Prices Down
Memories of the popular Self Help Co-op grocery stores which are no more.

A Settler’s Life in New Plymouth
Grace and Thomas Hirst emigrated from Yorkshire to New Plymouth in 1852, Grace’s regular letters home paint a picture of the era.

Two Men from Timsbury
Peter Rankin follows the lives of two Men who leave Timsbury for New Zealand.

Wallpapering
Jeanette Grant shares the trials and tribulations of wallpapering in the 40s.

Reverend Alexander Don and the Early Chinese
Reverend Don was well-known in the 19th and 20th centuries for his work with the early Chinese.

The Campbell Island Lady
The legends of a young woman of European origin who lived a life of exile on Campbell Island.

By These Six Ships: Part Two
David Painter shares the story of four of his great-grandparents and the ships they sailed in on their journeys to their new home in New Zealand.

Going to War
Gordon Tait writes about his father before, during and following World War Two.