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.
Colour footage from 16mm film, without sound.
The American First Lady is escorted by a group of US Navy commanders around the naval hospital at Silverstream for a tour of inspection. Captain Felix Keaney, who has charge of the hospital, is by her side and Mrs. Janet Fraser, wife of Prime Minister Peter Fraser also accompanies them. American nurses, patients and staff stand outside one of the main buildings or lean out windows to see Mrs. Roosevelt.
(Footage at this point featuring Mrs. Roosevelt jumps back and forwards chronologically).
Scene abruptly changes to Whakarewarewa Village and Guide Rangitīaria Dennan showing Mrs. Roosevelt around.
Silverstream Hospital staff meeting the First Lady.
US Naval officers with Mrs. Roosevelt on an American launch near docklands.
Rotorua farm, demonstrations of agricultural practice, new and old. Geysers. Sheep.
Naval hospital, Silverstream, inspecting a troop.