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Spectrum was a long-running weekly radio documentary series which captured the essence of New Zealand from 1972 to 2016. Alwyn Owen and Jack Perkins produced the series for many years, creating a valuable library of New Zealand oral history.
Spectrum's microphones capture everyday life of the Wellington suburb of Stokes Valley.
[The programme consists of actuality linked with narration by David Delaney.]
The sounds of the milkman on his rounds, with clinking glass bottles- as a description is given of dawn breaking on the suburb of 7,000 people, most of whom will head off for the day to work elsewhere.
Sounds of a family having breakfast and children Dylan and Mary getting money for school (6 cents for a new ruler) from their mother.
At the shopping centre outside the library, boys play four-square while they wait for the school bus. Girls discuss homework.
Friday rubbish trucks are heard.
"Every able-bodied woman in the Valley is washing dishes, dusting the TV set or vacuuming", to the accompaniment of 2ZB (an excerpt is heard of a music dedication) and pre-schoolers.
Mother and child are heard, child playing with saucepans.
A dog is heard barking at the post-girl and the mail is inspected.
Recording of women chatting in the shops. Women discuss children's shoes.
Elderly residents are also out and about - two women discuss bingo.
The Valley's two kindergartens are hard at work - children and teachers talk about their paintings.
Lunchtime in the fish and chip shop - school children order 20 cents worth of fish and chips or hot dogs and chips.
Housewives can relax after getting baby down for a sleep - a mother soothes a grizzling baby.
Two hours of peace now until the kids get home from school - sounds of birds and chickens.
Children arriving home for school, talking about their day, then playing "Queenie, who's got the ball?"
As it is Friday night, after dinner, fathers take youngsters down to the shopping centre, where a raffle is being held to raise money for the rugby club.Tickets are 10 cents each or 3 for 25 cents.
The youth club features table tennis and a rock music playing in the hall.
Back home, television plays and it starts raining as the Valley goes to sleep.