NZHistory.net.nz / Gallery / Royal Visit / Sound file transcriptions
National Film Unit Film preserved and made available by Archives New Zealand Te Whare Tohu Tuhituhinga o Aotearoa .
The scene opens with the film's title and then a view of the Gothic (ship). We then see the royal couple descending the ships stairs and being welcomed by dignitaries waiting on the dock.
Commentary:
'So the Queen comes to New Zealand. 12,000 miles from the Motherland, she is not among strangers. She has come to her New Zealand home. Presented by the Governor-General, the Prime Minister and his wife, Mrs Sidney Holland, pay their respects. It is the first time in history that a reigning monarch has visited these shores'.
Crowds cheer and wave flags as the Royal entourage passes down Queen Street. We then cut to the Royal couple's visit to Auckland hospital and the Queen talking to a wounded war veteran.
Commentary:
'The Queen is acclaimed by her people [loud cheering]. Her Majesty's first thoughts are for the sick and infirm, and at the very outset of her stay she visits Auckland Hospital. Those too weak to line the streets thus see their Queen. And none more closely than Lieutenant Colonel Falker [?], CBE, DSO, who last year spoke to her from Korea in a Christmas broadcast.'
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. ]
Guide Rangi shows the Queen around a traditional Maori village and the impressive geysers at Whakarewarewa.
Commentary:
'Guide Rangi tells Her Majesty of the legends behind the carvings on the whare, our meeting house at Whakarewarewa. It's not an old whare, but it is in the true Maori tradition. It's part of a model pa, or fortified village, which shows how our people used to live. I think Rangi has also told of the legends about the waters which boil in the earth nearby.' [sound of geyser performing].
The Royal train arrives in Palmerston North to great cheers. We then see the train passing Mt Taranaki (Egmont). In Stratford, the Royals walk among the crowd.
Commentary:
'Out across the Manawatu plains and into the square of Palmerston North. Where do they come from all these people, with only two million in the whole country? Yet this scene is typical of the Queen's reception in more than fifty towns. Mount Egmont, rising 8,000 feet, but not high enough to overawe the children of Stratford. Ten thousand have gathered in this dairy farming township, and here the Queen finds herself truly among her people for Stratford is one of the few places on the royal tour where Her Majesty proceeds on foot, and the Duke too!'
The Royal couple are standing in the back of a specially converted jeep as it drives past thousands of children gathered in Athletic Park. As their car passes the children they all swarm en masse to the other side of the field to get another look as the jeep turns a corner.
Commentary:
'Wellington, a great moment for the 133 year old capital city, as never before it celebrates. And the greatest, most tumultuous welcome of all is from it's children. The organisers have arranged that every child shall have a good view as the Queen and the Duke drive past - but the children found a way to ensure at least two good views! Fifteen thousand individual wills, they filled but a single paddock.
These are the future men and women of one far corner of a commonwealth of many governments but of one allegiance.'
The Queen and Prince Philip enter Parliament and the Queen takes her place at the head of the parliamentary chamber.
Commentary:
'It's a gala day for the Capital. With all the gay colours of a summer throng to greet her, the Queen arrives to open Parliament. She is wearing her fabulous coronation gown. At Westminster, it is traditional that the sovereign has no right of direct entry into the Lower House. In New Zealand, where there is now only a single chamber, the same custom applies. It is to the chamber of the former Upper House that the Queen will summon members of the House of Representatives to appear before her.'
The Queen reading her speech from inside Parliament.
Commentary:
'Honourable members of the House of Representatives. It is with a feeling of real satisfaction that I speak to you, the elected representatives of the people of New Zealand, as your Queen and that I exercise my prerogative of opening the fourth session of this thirtieth Parliament. One hundred years ago, when the people of New Zealand gave to themselves the right of responsible self-government, it would have required a prophetic imagination to have forseen the possibility of the present occasion. But in these hundred years, New Zealand has grown to be a sovereign and mature state.'
The royal aeroplane lands in Westport. Scenes of crowds welcoming the Royal couple. Then we cut to scenes of the Royal train leaving for Christchurch via Arthur's Pass.
Commentary:
'Main outlet for the Buller coalfields, Westport gives a real mining community welcome. There they are for everyone to see, bless 'em. At every wayside station the children wait in loyalty and excitement. The Queen is journeying from the West Coast to Canterbury, right across the South Island - a magic carpet for every watching child.'
Crowds welcome the royals as they arrive by train. Local officials and the Royal couple stand on a balcony while the Mayor conducts the crowd in a rendition of 'Hip hip, hooray!'
Commentary:
'Christchurch, capital of Canterbury, the Cathedral City welcomes its Queen. Thirty thousand voices are raised in unison as the Mayor calls for cheers.'
The Royal couple are driven down crowded Dunedin streets. They wave to the crowd from a balcony.
Commentary [in Scottish accent]:
'And so she comes to Dunedin, her other Edinburgh, and a packed thousands of us make no secret of our loyalty or devotion. How otherwise could we receive this daughter of a true Scots mother - herself mother of a Prince called Charlie. And the Duke, of Edinburgh mark you, and a father to the Prince!'
Chinese dragons and clowns entertain and thousands of children in the stands and on the grounds welcome the Royal couple in Forbury Park.
Commentary:
'Forbury Park, our children await, and we have our own way of keeping them amused. Orderly lines, mark you, well that's what we told 'em, but who could stop our bairns from playing personal tribute to the Queen? - ach, this is the children's hour. They sweep across the park like the blaeberries in a highland wind. It's a true game of devotion which blows around them now.'
The Queen, sitting in the stands, is given a tartan blanket to keep warm. She is entertained by shows of horse riding and cattle judging - the latter gets out of hand when the bulls start 'playing' with their minders.
Commentary:
'What could be more fitting for Her Majesty's last public engagement in New Zealand than the opening of the Royal Southland Agricultural Show in Invercargill. Aye, it can be cold when there's a south-westerly, but what a chance for the Queen to test the quality of warm New Zealand wool. How completely absorbed she is in the passing cavalcade. How readily she responds to the carefree spirit of her Southland people. The show demonstrates what the richness of farmlands mean to New Zealand and the promise of our youngsters too. Ach, this could go on 'til the cows come hame!'
Yvette Williams performs a long jump.
Commentary:
'Yvette WIlliams...world's record holder for the women's long jump'.
'The Queen is sitting on a stage and a young girl presents her with an upside down bouquet of flowers.
Commentary:
The Queen's memories of Southland will forever occupy a very special place. For here it is in the little township of Gore that 4-year-old Maureen Lines [?] presents her bouquet - upside down. A right royal precedent which earns from the Queen her merriest laugh of her whole tour. The appointment of a keeper of royal upside down bouquets may well be the subject of a future court circular!'
New Zealand dignitaries escort the Royal couple as they board the Gothic. Crowds cheer loudly from the dock and from their boats. The couple shake hands with the PM and Governor-General before boarding.
Commentary:
'The time has come for the Queen to depart. Bluff harbour is the port from which she sails. Aboard the little ships the people crowd to wish her God's speed. In the company of her ministers she walks - she who has invested the Crown with a personal quality that we should never have understood but for her presence among us. Acting for each one of us with his handshake, the Prime Minister [and as the Governor General shakes hands with the Queen] Sir Willoughby Norrie, Governor-General.
The Queen waves from aboard the Gothic to the gathered crowds. The ship sails off into the distance to the sound of 'Old Langs Syne'. Last frame is of a card with 'The End - New Zealand National Film Unit Production.'
Commentary:
[Queen] 'Now that the moment has come to leave, We do so with sorrow. But We also look forward to the day when we shall once more be able to visit your shores. May God bless New Zealand and watch over the destinies of her people.'
[Narrator] 'Twelve thousand miles she came to us to find home once more and welcome from loyal hearts. That is what New Zealand means to the Queen and she to her New Zealand people.'
This silent colour film was made using an 8mm camera by amateur cameraman Mr Edwin Nitschke. We are most grateful to Mr Nitschke's family for making this available to us.
The Royal train pulls up to the station and the waiting crowds cheer wildly. The Queen is greeted by local dignitaries.
Shot of the Royal couple waving to the crowds from the back of the Royal train then the film jumps to them walking among the crowds gathered on the street. Many people are waving Union Jack flags
Shots of the flags and banners put up along the main street and of soldiers (?) standing to attention waiting for the Royals to arrive (one flexes his knees). Then we see the royal entourage driving down the main street with the Queen and Prince Philip waving to the crowd from the back of their open-top car.
The Royal couple and Prime Minister Sidney Holland walking among the people of Patea.
Shots of the streets of Masterton and of various decorations and floral arrangements created for the visit. The Royal entourage drives down the main street as the crowds cheer.
High shot looking down on the Royal car entering Paraparaumu airport as crowds cheer them on.
The Royal plane takes off from Paraparaumu airport.
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