This is unedited raw film footage, shot by Academy Award winning US Marine cinematographer Norman T. Hatch for a US newsreel that was never completed, provisionally titled 'Meet New Zealand'. Around 21,000 Marines were stationed in camps around the Wellington region from June 1942 until November 1943. Most of their time was spent training hard preparing for the war in the Southwest Pacific against the Japanese.
This silent reel contains short segments of various slated scenes:
[Scene 83] US Marines skiing on the lower slopes of a ski field.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, accompanied by Governor-General Sir Cyril Newall and Miss Marie Ryan, American Red Cross Supervisor for the Southwest Pacific, 28 August 1943. Seen here exiting Government House to sit on lawn chairs, where Mrs. Roosevelt answers some questions for the Press. The Governor-General’s daughter Miss Georgiana Newall joins the group on the lawn with four small dogs on leads, for a publicity shot.
[Scene 83] Some more brief shots of skiing.
[Scene 77] Shot of the Avon River and Armagh Street bridge, Christchurch.
[Scene 78] Shot of an old small church with a tower and cemetery plot out front.
[Scene 75] Uniformed students, and school masters in gowns stroll across the quad grounds of Christ’s College. A group of students on bikes cycle around the quad.
[Scene 76] In Cathedral Square many people can be seen biking and walking the busy city centre, as well as the odd tram. Colonial Mutual Life building is clearly seen.
[Scene 75] Student group on bikes seen again passing the camera in school quad. Three student prefects(?) wearing blazers and a US Marine stroll into the quad through one of the arches.
[Scene 63] Guide Rangitīaria Dennan leads a small group of US Marines through the entrance gate of Whakarewarewa Pā, Roturua. A close-up of the carved waharoa (entranceway).
[Scene 65] Guide Rangitīaria Dennan leads the group to a hot spring where three wahine are bathing. Cuts to a different scene: view of advertising boards on a fence – South British Insurance Co., Jockey Underwear, and Caley’s Chocolate complete with an image of soldiers fighting with the caption ‘plenty more when the war is over’.
[Scene 91] NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS, AUCKLAND. Military officers and civilians walking along a railway platform.
[Scene 66] Geysers billowing steam as the small tour group approaches at Whakarewarewa.
Cuts to a wide, static shot of the Auckland War Memorial Museum.