To celebrate the arrival of summer after the weird year we’ve had, Re: has dug through library archives to find a collection of photographs that capture summer in New Zealand over 100 years.
From beach bible classes in 1910 to jumping off the old Maoribank bridge in 1989, it’s clear our love of the water is something that’s here to stay.
The Rongotea Methodist Bible Class picnic held at Tangimoana. On the right hand side are Jack Darling and Emily Thompson (Hill).
1910
Source: Manawatū Heritage. Public Photograph Collection Rng 32. 2007N_Rng32_RTL_0871.
Photographer: Unknown
Children bathing in Rotorua.
Date uncertain: 1910-1919
Source: Tudehope Collection, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 1720-10805.
Photographer: Tudehope, Percy Robert, 1883-1964.
Rakauwahi in summer.
Date uncertain: 1900-1919
Source: C.P. Dawes Collection. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 1572-0787.
Photographer: Charles Peet Dawes
Joys of Summer, Hokio Beach.
26 December 1918
Source: Gift of G. L. Adkin family estate, 1964. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (A.006414)
Photographer: Leslie Adkin
McKenzie and Summers children.
Date uncertain: 1928-1930
Source: Wairarapa Archive Summers family : digital images 11-79/39
Photographer: Unknown
Young Māori man shaving with a cut-throat razor in hot pool.
Date uncertain: 1930-1939
Source: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 471-9760
Photographer: Troughton-Clark, C
Three young Māori women standing in front of a tree from which bunches of corn cobs are hanging.
Date uncertain: 1930-1939
Source: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 471-9746
Photographer: Troughton-Clark, C
Pat and Jan playing in the garden, Palmerston North.
1953
Source: Manawatū Heritage. 2011P_IMCA-DigitalMaster_005531. IMCA Digital Archive 2011
Photographer: Unknown
Summer in Hokianga (Waimamaku).
1957
Source: Purchased 1997 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. © Te Papa. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (O.006124)
Photographer: Eric Lee-Johnson.
Swimming at the Manawatū River.
February 1958
Source: Manawatū Heritage. 2011P_IMCA-DigitalMaster_005542. IMCA Digital Archive 2011
Photographer: Unknown
Lake Rotoiti outlet, Tasman Region.
1960
Source: Alexander Turnbull Library WA-53807
Photographer: Whites Aviation
Children at the Te Awe Awe Statue, The Square.
1963
Source: Manawatū Heritage. 2017N_2014-46_024344. Public Photograph Collection 2014-46
Photographer: John MacKay
Sitting on the deck, Tutukaka.
January 1969
Source: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 895-A89073, National Publicity Studios
Photographer: National Publicity Studios; Riethmaier, Gregor
Copyright: Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga.
Māori and Pākehā boys at school swimming pool, Auckland.
December 1970
Source: Archives New Zealand. AAQT 6539 W3537 108/A95463
Photographer: G Riethmaier
Young people hanging from suspension cables at the site of the old Maoribank Bridge. The bridge had collapsed and then been demolished in late 1988.
Jumping from the bridge into Te Awakairangi/Hutt river had been a popular summer pastime for locals for several decades past.
This family snapshot, taken in the summer immediately following the loss of the bridge, shows the tradition persisted until the suspension cables were finally removed.
1989
Source: Upper Hutt City Library Heritage Collections
Photographer: Airdrie McEwen
Handstands on Tāwharanui Beach.
January 2020
Photographer: Zoe Madden-Smith
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