Composer Margaret Wegener (1920 – 2020) led an extraordinary life both in the UK where she was born, and here in New Zealand, where she settled in 2005. A considerable body of Margaret's original compositions have been published, drawing praise from composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams, Herbert Howells, and John Rutter. Auckland Libraries is privileged to hold the collection of her musical life’s work and pays tribute to this remarkable woman by showcasing some of her most beautifully crafted instrumental and vocal works. Some of the Auckland Philharmonia’s Aspiring Musicians, a pianist from the Haydn Staples Auckland Philharmonia Piano Scholarship and other local musicians, come together in this performance to bring Margaret’s music to life — a treasure to be discovered, heard and cherished.

To complete our Thursday Heritage Concert Series, Japan born and raised violinist, Yuhka Nagai and NZ pianist Kent Isomura, present a programme including two NZ premier pieces by contemporary Japanese composers, alongside the works of two European greats. 

Six pieces by Hikaru Hayashi (1931-2012) and a Nursery song by Rikuya Terashima (1964-) from Amami are related to Okinawan folk music which comes from the South of Japan. Traveling from Japan to Europe, Yukha and Kent play Rondo K.269/261 by W.A. Mozart and Violin Sonata No.1 by R. Schumann. The Mozart Rondo K.269/261 was most likely composed for A. Brunetti and written in the time he wrote his famous 5 violin concertos between 1773 and 1777. It was possibly a replacement of the finale for his violin concerto No.1, K.207. R. Schumann’s 1st violin Sonata is dramatic and has his expressions of unstable emotions and the depth of energy.

Alison is joined over Zoom by author Dr Bex Bell, discussing her groundbreaking book about healing Imposter Syndrome and ending self-sabotage. Dr Bex has worked with people from all walks of life and her book is full of effective strategies that will help erase the anxiety about never feeling good enough. We had some technical issues when recording the interview - keep listening, because it was a great conversation! Inner Critic to Inner Coach can be borrowed and requested from the Auckland Libraries' catalogue https://bit.ly/3vVV4VW

Tupou Manapori, was a schoolteacher, former Manukau City Councillor and chairwoman of the Council’s Pacific Island Advisory Committee. Born in Manihiki, Rarotonga, she moved to New Zealand in 1968.

In this recording, Tupou recounts her experiences as a young, Pacific Island immigrant, and talks about the ‘Dawn Raids’ in the 1970s. This interview was conducted in 2010 by Dionne Christian.

Oral history interview, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections MNP-OH-32

https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/oralhistory/id/3287/rec/3

Photograph reproduced by courtesy of Stuff Limited. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections Footprints 00676

Frank Amoah was the manager and Social Worker at the African Welfare Service Trust when this interview was conducted. Here he talks about coming to New Zealand from Ghana at the age of nineteen and the establishment of the African Welfare Service Trust.

Oral history interview, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections OH-1252-008

https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/oralhistory/id/1698/rec/2

Kudakwashe Tuwe, the former President of the Waitakere Ethnic Board, describes his migrant experience of coming to NZ about 10 years ago from Zimbabwe when the political situation worsened there. This interview was conducted in 2014 by Smita Biswas.

Oral history interview, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections OH-1163-003.

https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/oralhistory/id/1381/rec/2

In 2017 Auckland Libraries recorded the stories of the Auckland Regional Migrant Services. Bulbala (Ayesha) Slimankhil describes her life in Afghanistan under the Taliban and compares it with her new life in New Zealand. She talks about her first impressions and struggles after immigrating.

Oral history interview, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections OH-1278-005

https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/oralhistory/id/1336/rec/1

In this track, we hear from Boaz Habib a committee member of Waitakere Ethnic Board. He talks about his migrant experience arriving as a teenager in 1995 after growing up in Dubai and Pakistan where he was born.

He also discusses his first home, facing discrimination, and how meeting a diaspora of students from various ethnicities was important for him. This interview was conducted in 2014 by Smita Biswas.

Oral history interview, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections OH-1163-001.

https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/oralhistory/id/797/rec/2

Welcome to ' That’s so last Century – What we wore 1950s – 1990s'.

Recorded in 2013 as part of the Dominion Road Stories Collection, Marianne Hay the owner of the specialist sewing shop Exquisite Stitch - Bernina Sewing Centre, talks with Sue Gee about her childhood sewing influences and memories.

This recording was done in the shop – so you’ll hear some background sounds through the track.

Voices have been drawn from Auckland Libraries Oral History and Sound, Heritage Collections.

kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

‘That’s So Last Century: What We Wore 1950s – 1990s’ exhibition is on at Level 2 of Auckland’s Central City Library from Wednesday 20 March – 13 July 2024.

So grab your coat and grab your hat… and head to town to enjoy a view of retro magazines, photographs, patterns and materials showcasing what we wore last century!

For more information on the exhibition and interactive activities, go to OurAuckland. ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Ref: Interview with Marianne Hay for the Dominion Road Stories Collection, 2013, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, WOH_1095_010

Image: Marianne Hay in her shop, 2013, Photographer, Sue Gee, Accompanying material to the Oral History, WOH_1095_010_016

Welcome to ' That’s so last Century – What we wore 1950s – 1990s'.

In this track we hear from Jay Khatri, a Mumbai born tailor who migrated to NZ in the late 1980s. He worked at clothing manufactures Street Wise and then Cambridge Clothing Company before opening his own tailoring business- Island Style (Jay's Clothing Ltd) in Henderson.

This interview was conducted in 2015 by Julia Barron as part of the Henderson Stories Collection.

https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/oralhistory/id/1516/rec/2

Voices have been drawn from Auckland Libraries Oral History and Sound, Heritage Collections.

kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

‘That’s So Last Century: What We Wore 1950s – 1990s’ exhibition is on at Level 2 of Auckland’s Central City Library from Wednesday 20 March – 13 July 2024.

So grab your coat and grab your hat… and head to town to enjoy a view of retro magazines, photographs, patterns and materials showcasing what we wore last century!

For more information on the exhibition and interactive activities, go to OurAuckland. ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/

Ref: Interview and images with Jay Khatri, 2015, for the Henderson Stories Collection, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, OH-1252-004