NZHistory.net.nz / Gallery / US Forces in NZ / Sound files

'American invasion' of NZ: sound files

You will need Real/RealOne Player or an MP3 player like Windows Media Player to play these sound clips. You can also see transcripts of these sound files.

'Girls of the Silver Dollar'

An interview with Nurse Margaret Macnab who was given the job of visiting Wellington's brothels and serving notices on girls suspected of carrying 'social diseases' during the time of the American invasion. Interviewer: Jack Perkins.

• Clip one: US marines and the need to check for venereal diseases - 4m 54s [Realplayer (603kb); MP3 (860kb)]
• Clip two: the brothels in Wellington - 2 m 17s [Realplayer (283kb); MP3 (486kb)]
• Clip three: visiting a prostitute in desperate conditions - 1m 59s [Realplayer (246kb); MP3 (352kb)]
• Text transcript of these files

Ref: Spectrum 543, CDR737, Sound Archives/Nga Taonga Korero

'The Homefront War'

Ena Ryan talks to Jack Perkins about wartime Wellington of the 1940s.

• Clip one: the arrival of the marines - 2m 31s [Realplayer (311kb); MP3 (421kb)]
• Clip two: meeting troops marching and lack of local support - 2m 23s [Realplayer (295kb); MP3 (421kb)]
• Clip three: Military Police and Sydney prostitutes - 2m 35s [Realplayer (364kb); MP3 (521kb)]
• Text transcript of these files

Ref: Spectrum 534, CDR735, Sound Archives/Nga Taonga Korero

'The War Brides'

Roy Murphy talks to New Zealanders who married American servicemen at a reunion in New York. Produced by Alwyn Owens.

• Clip one: meeting US servicemen; going to dances - 2m 35s [Realplayer (319kb); MP3 (455kb)]
• Clip two: condition of servicemen returning from duty; meeting future husband - 2m 31s [Realplayer (311kb); MP3 (443kb)]
• Clip three: the journey to the US - 3m 48s [Realplayer (469kb); MP3 (671kb)]
• Text transcript of these files

Ref: Spectrum 572, CDR604, Sound Archives/Nga Taonga Korero

'Marines Reunion in New Zealand'

Peter Aranyi reports from a reunion of former US marines who spent time in NZ during World War Two, the marines calling New Zealand 'the heaven they came to on their way to hell'.

• Clip: Marines reunion - 1.48 total [Realplayer (230kb); MP3 (328kb)]
• Text transcript of this file

Ref: Morning report, C88021E, Sound Archives/Nga Taonga Korero

� Copyright Radio New Zealand. All rights reserved. Permission of Sound Archives/Nga Taonga Korero, Christchurch, New Zealand, must be obtained before any re-use of these radio recordings.

Back to top

�