Drowning has claimed far too many lives in Aotearoa. Our wild beaches and network of rivers proved so fatal in the 19th century that drowning was referred to as 'The New Zealand Death'. In the 1950s things didn't seem to be that much better, with public information campaigns reminding parents that a child died by drowning every week.

This slide was produced by the 'National Prevent Drowning Committee' which worked with the Internal Affairs Department. Their mascot was an owl called Ruru who urged the public to 'Learn Water Wisdom'. In an effort to reach Maori some of Ruru's messages were printed in Te Reo. 

The presence of Ruru dates this slide to the 1950s- as does the different design of the surf lifesavers' flags. This particular slide was shown in Paraparaumu- but with Foxton being a seaside town it is almost certain that it would have been screened in Horowhenua just in time for summer. 

If you are interested in reading more about Ruru's campaigns you can read a thesis here 

 https://researcharchive.vuw.ac.nz/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10063/2981/thesis.pdf?sequence=2 

The 'National Airlines Corporation'  (NAC) was founded in 1945 as a government-owned airline. It mainly serviced domestic routes, with a few international Pacific services included before merging with international airline 'Air New Zealand' in 1978.

The Douglas DC-3 was a revered passenger airliner used around the world. Variants also served as cargo planes and the military versions (most commonly the C-47) saw extensive service during World War Two. DC-3s were the mainstay of NAC from its establishment right up until the 1960s. The airline kept a few DC-3s for rural airstrips until the middle of the 1970s! 

This slide was used to advertise the Nelson fights in Paraparaumu, with the town's airport being used. A 'Paper's Past' search reveals that test flights using this route were carried out in 1952, with the service becoming permanent shortly afterwards. NAC advertised this short flight over the Cook Strait as being perfect for a day excursion and added it to a growing list of Kapiti Coast services.

But not everything went to plan. Three children died when a DC-3 crash landed on final approach from Christchurch to Paraparaumu airport in 1954. NAC subsequently ordered all flights with unattended children to have cabin crew on board.

These slides may have also been shown (in a modified form) in Horowhenua- although this has not been confirmed. However, many Horowhenua locals would have flown with NAC!

Possums are a massive problem in New Zealand. Today, over 30 million of the mammals eat through around 9000 tonnes of vegetation a night. This bounty scheme from 1951 was the first large scale attempt to control the pests. Hunters brought in the possums ears and a strip of fur to claim their two shillings and sixpence bounty. Eight million such bounties were claimed in the ten years the scheme ran.

But the plan was failure. Three quarters of the possums 'killed' were found on farms, near towns or even as roadkill on the highways. Few were caught in the forests where the greatest need was. When the scheme began, possums occupied just over half of the country. When it ended, over three quarters of Aotearoa had possums. Hardly the mark of success!

This slide was shown in Paraparaumu cinemas- but slides just like it would have also been screened in Horowhenua. Note the mistake in calling the animals 'Opossums'- these are the American marsupials, but the name was commonly used here! 

MAVtech's collection holds many cinema slides relating to war- with war bonds being a particularly popular genre. However, what makes this slide unusual is that it is from the First World War, not the second.

In 1914 many small towns were only just getting permanent cinemas established so advertising would have been quite new. This may explain the unusual shape of this slide. It is a copy of a popular recruiting poster so its message would have been amplified.

It is not known exactly when in the war this slide was displayed- but we do know that voluntary enlistments were not enough to keep the ranks filled- on the 1st of August 1916 New Zealand introduced military conscription. 

This particular slide came from a Paraparaumu cinema (but the same design was probably shown nationally). It shows a lot of wear- not unexpected given that it is over one hundred years old! The full text read "Rally Round The Flag- We Must Have More Men"

Penciled on back – Paraparaumu

Written on back with black ballpoint pen – Sport Thurs 5c Seniors

Stamped on back with black ink - Photograph by Godfray Bennett, Otaki

Paraparaumu Rugby team, coaches & managers (unnamed), with 3 trophy cups. 1 B&W photo print

Formal group photo.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Penciled on back – P56

H.E.P.B. Office at Paraparaumu 1 B&W photo print

‘Special effect’ contrast photo. Viewed from hill looking over railway line north-westward to coast.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Penciled on back – P55 Photo 2

H.E.P.B. Office at Paraparaumu 1 B&W photo print

Viewed from Coastlands carpark. Council Office / Library (left). H.E.P.B. Office / Showroom (centre). A.N.Z. Bank / The Kapiti Observer / Foster Richie & Co. (right).

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Penciled on back – Paraparaumu Photo 1

H.E.P.B. Office at Paraparaumu 1 B&W photo print

Office / Showroom in left half of PDL building (right) with Council Office in building at left. Coastlands carpark (middle foreground) State Highway 1 & Main Trunk Railway Line (foreground).

Viewed from hill looking over railway line westward to coast with Kapiti Island in the distance.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”