Ngā Pātaka Kōrero - Auckland Libraries

In this episode we chat with associate curator heritage collections Melanie Kung about a recent project related to the United Nations Publications collections here at Auckland Libraries.

Melanie talks us through the historical value of this collection, the mana associated with Auckland Libraries having been an early repository for the UN Collection in Aotearoa New Zealand, and the changing nature of print collections in content and design.

You can read more about the collection in her Heritage et AL Blog here: https://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2026/10/the-united-nations-at-auckland-libraries.html

Explore the stories of Avondale Racecourse through a self-guided audio walk around the racetrack. Or, listen in your own space and experience the sounds and voices of this important community space in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

If you want to listen to the audio while walking at the Avondale Racecourse, you need to start standing on the track, facing West, next to the Wingate Reserve Entrance, 43 Wingate Street, Avondale. When you are there you can press play on your audio device. We suggest you listen through headphones.

This sound work was originally created for The Public Stand 2: An Ode to Avondale Racecourse, presented as part of the 2025 Whau Arts Festival.

For more about the Avondale Racecourse and the live performance for which the original sound was created, go to:

https://www.avondaleracecoursealliance.co.nz/
https://artswhau.org.nz/project/the-public-stand-2/

Credits for the audio:
Co-creators: Becca Wood & Molly Mullen
Sound design: Peter Hobbs
Voices (in order):
Pita Turei
Jan Skinner
Lisa Truttman
Marlene Milverton
Trina Smith
Mandy Siitia
Jo Smith
Lance Blair
Franca Wood

Mrs Valda Braithwaite, Mrs Foster, Vera Fowler, Mr McKellow, Mr Mays, Merv Raymond, and Mrs Thomas, from the Avondale Oral History Project, 1990, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections
https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/oralhistory/id/2360/rec/1

Akinki Manukau describes why growing food is her passion. She talks about alternative moon calendar, organic growing, how she wants to grow food that will nurture people. Akink also highlights the indigenous communal aspect of growing your own food.

OH_1104_018_4_018_03 Akinki Manukau, oral history, 2013

Jarcinda Stowers-Ama talks about how difficult was to find traditional Cook Islands food in New Zealand, like specific types of taro. She recalls traditional Christmas Cook Islands’ recipes and Asian markets as a source for her ingredients.

OH-1185-001-01 Jarcinda Stowers-Ama, oral history, 2014

Sue Gee remembers how enthusiastic her dad was when he had a new cooking inspiration. Explains cooking processes like soaking octopus two days in advance. She recalls having mostly Chinese cooking when her granddad was around.

SA_0187_002 Sue Gee, oral history, 2020