Spectrum 436. Iron coast town

Rights Information
Year
1983
Reference
21204
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Year
1983
Reference
21204
Media type
Audio
Categories
Documentary radio programs
Nonfiction radio programs
Radio programs
Sound recordings
Duration
00:37:40
Credits
RNZ Collection
Alwyn Owen, 1926-, Producer

Once it was an isolated Māori settlement, not even accessible by road on the King Country coast south of Kawhia. Today, thanks to the iron-sand deposits, Taharoa is a township but still, in many respects, a town on the road to nowhere.

Spectrum producer Alwyn Owen visits and talks to some of the local residents:
Stephen Holt, school headmaster.
Ben Tuhiwi, an elder of Ngati Mahuta.
Piwa Tuaupiki, local kaumatua and his wife Daphne.

Change came to Taharoa when New Zealand Steel began paying to extract iron-sands from the local Maori lands and employing local people.
Bob Hunter, New Zealand Steel manager.
John Kepa and Ted Willison, Ngati Mahuta members who returned to Taharoa once work became available.
Tom Rewi talks about being involved in negotiations with New Zealand Steel and the requirement that 80 percent of employees had to be locals.

Des Old, a New Zealand Steel employee and his wife Skippy.
Gladys King is teaching weaving and tukutuku to women at the local marae.
Frank Huia, superintendent at the New Zealand Steel plant talks about problems in the community and the need to understand Maori culture.
Bob Hunter talks about the impact of the downturn in demand for iron-sand on the community and jobs.