PERSONAL RECORD. WELLINGTON SLUMS

The National War Memorial Carillon. Back of house in [Mt Cook/ Te Aro] slum area, two boys turn towards house. Panning shot of Government House and grounds. Shots of rundown inner city Wellington housing [Te Aro flat]. Three children standing amongst rubbish. Suburb with houses being prepared to be moved [Miramar; possibly being moved for Wellington Airport expansion]. More views of rundown inner city Wellington housing. Shots of large inner city houses used as business premises; “May & Baker”, “Dunlop New Zealand Limited”, “Cinema Supplies & Tools Ltd”, “W.H. Firth & Co Ltd”. Views of rundown housing.

Panning views over Wellington taken from Mount Victoria and view of city from Oriental Bay. Clyde Quay boat sheds. Victoria University Hunter Building. House under construction. Stately homes. View along driveway of “Homewood” [Karori]. Hotel Waterloo. View from Wadestown over rail yards and panning across to city. Shot of Dixon Street flats, Wellington. Shots of large scale earth works [extension to Wellington Airport]. Sign: “Wellington Prison”. Shots of Wellington Town Hall, showing Wellington City Corporation Building under construction. “AMP” building with scaffolding around it. Sign: “Civic Motors Ltd”. Panning shot across Wellington Harbour.

The beginning of this film echoes an influential 1935 article in the NZ Truth newspaper in which the “magnificent” new war memorial was contrasted with the “squalor” of nearby housing and government priorities questioned.