NZHistory.net.nz, New Zealand history online - queen elizabeth

Film: the Queen visits Masterton, 1954

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Film Clip: arriving in Masterton

Still shots and description

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.

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.

Film: Queen Street welcome for royal couple, 1953

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Film clip: the Queen Street welcome and Auckland hospital visit

Still shots and description

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.

Film: the Queen at Invercargill agricultural show, 1954

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Film Clip: the Invercargill agricultural show

Still shots and description

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.

Film: Queen's arrival at Parliament, 1954

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Film clip: the royal couple entering Parliament

Still shots and description

The Queen and Prince Philip enter Parliament, and the Queen takes her place at the head of the parliamentary chamber.

Film: Guide Rangi shows Queen around Whakarewarewa, 1954

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Film Clip: visit to Whakarewarewa

Still shots and description

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].

Film: the Queen speaking in Parliament, 1954

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

The Queen's Speech from the Throne, 12 January 1954

Still shots and description

The Queen reads her speech 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 30th 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 foreseen the possibility of the present occasion. But in these hundred years, New Zealand has grown to be a sovereign and mature state.'

Film: the Queen visits Palmerston North and Stratford, 1954

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Film clip: visiting Palmerston North and Feilding

Still shots and description

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!''

Film: Queen's visit to Waitomo Caves and Karapiro, 1954

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Film clip: visit to Waitomo Caves and Karapiro

Still shots and description

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.

Film: the Queen arrives in Christchurch, 1954

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Film Clip: the Queen's arrival in Christchurch

Still shots and description

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.'

Film: Queen's arrival in Waipawa, 1954

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Film clip: arrival in Waipawa

Still shots and description

The Royal train pulls up to the station and the waiting crowds cheer wildly. The Queen is greeted by local dignitaries.

This silent colour film was made using an 8mm camera by amateur cameraman Mr Edwin Nitschke.