Taranaki (1954) Short Film

Four decades before starring in The Last Samurai, New Zealand's most symmetrical volcano stole the limelight in this NFU short. Extolling a mantra of progress and change, Taranaki presents New Plymouth as regional hub and suburban paradise, surrounded by bays and gladioli. Narrator Paul Ricketts touches on a conflict-soaked past by recalling his great grandmother's nightly refuge in a central city stockade, during the 1860s Taranaki Wars. Back in 1954, a fishing license costs two pounds, and co-operatively-run diary factories produce over half the nation's cheese.
Credits:
Narrator - Paul Ricketts
Editor - Ron Bowie
Camera - Brian Brake / Bert Bridgman
Director, Writer - Oxley Hughan

[@ozchick4]

Thank you for this film
It makes me homesick

[@darcycappsnz]

Mt. Taranaki is just beautiful. Back then and now. Proud to call Taranaki my home

[@v8valiant68]

My Irish ancestor came to Taranaki 140 years ago, He was in the militia which was at Parihaka, and as for my Maori ancestry it goes back hundreds of years, as it turns out my Iwi is Taranaki, this is a capsule of a gone bye era , it's really quite fascinating to see a more relaxed time of our period, it's a shame that we don't live like that these days, it's a pity there's not more about the coast here, it seems to concentrate more on other main town centres , mind you sort of reminds me of my child hood from the 70s.

[@Egmontbliss]

What a brilliant find! Interesting indeed - it’s certainly changed, enjoyed watching. 😊

[@whika070]

Its amazing how much homes there are in New Plymouth now compared to 1954.

[@YZNUP]

Great vid ,really shows how it should be, Look at us now, what happened.

[@sambaker3233]

Neoliberalism and Selling off of NZ. That's what.

[@DanielleA2023]

My mums sister Nora Tuuta was, when she passed away in the mid -80s perhaps the last fully versed wahine waiata O te Taranaki. Parihaka was their pa. Not that that matters in this all-white video

[@Grandadkov]

Lots of that I remember. A very good depiction of New Plymouth and Taranaki.

[@patriciareesby6419]

That's great, I was 12 years old and living in NP when this film was made.

[@rodcomet]

Well that certainly brought back a few happy memories. I was only 9 years old at the time.

[@robertplod1609]

Brilliant bloody brilliant

[@nakidrone4715]

What a great find/upload!

[@rrocketman]

Classic film 😎

[@ifsixwasnine1000]

That's the same music you hear walking around Eltham!

[@rjlchristie]

Govt housing and the NZ egalitarian society Back before Rogernomics gutted it all.

[@ohtrueyeahnah]

That accent tho

[@hadleigh01]

Classic NZ huh? Not a single maori person in a film about Taranaki. Quite sad really.

[@hadleigh01]

cool comment bro

[@shirzevor]

Dreadful ponce speaking voice. Thank goodness we
don't go on for that style these days.