THE NEW ZEALAND CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION 1940

Rights Information
Year
1940
Reference
F4317
Media type
Moving image
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Rights Information
Year
1940
Reference
F4317
Media type
Moving image
Place of production
New Zealand/Aotearoa
Categories
Promotional
Duration
0:12:06
Production company
Kodak NZ

The construction and official opening of the Centennial Exhibition. Shows the Canadian, Australian and British pavilions along with the Playland amusement park.

0 ft. 'Kodak New Zealand Ltd, presents 'The New Zealand Centennial Exhibition...1940''.
2 ft. 'Lyall Bay is the chosen spot for the historic event'. View of houses and bay from hill.
12 ft. Man removing palings on fence, site cleared with bulldozer.
14 ft. 'Two years before the opening, the huge task of levelling the selected area, of 58 acres begins. Mechanical methods make short work'. Bulldozers at work, men in ditches.
54 ft. 'As the ground is prepared, large supplies of timber arrive for building construction'. Trucks carrying timber, unloading.
74 ft. 'Foundations are laid and phantom forms take shape'. Basic structures, framework, girders, piles, etc, construction, towering buildings.
122 ft. 'The first symbol - memory of our honoured Maori race this fine structure has pride of place in the centre of the grounds'.
Statues of Kupe, discoverer of NZ, his wife Hine Te Aparangi, and the magician Pekahourangi naming the land Aotearoa. (by Christchurch Sculptor, Trethewy). Flags flying on top of building.
133 ft. 'The memorable opening takes place on 8th November 1939 by His Excellency the Governor General Lord Galway. The total attendance was 2,650,000'.
145 ft. Crowds & exhibits.
159 ft. 'General views from beneath the tower'. Towers, flags, vehicle.
181 ft. 'Inside the Canadian court - a fine exhibit'. C.U. paintings.
191 ft. 'The Australian Pavilion is, much admired and a worthy contribution from our sister dominion'. Exterior shot pavilion.
213 ft. Interior. Screens, projected images/photos; large beach scene image. Exterior scenes of exhibition.
243 ft. 'The British Court. Outstanding in dignity and an inspiration to all'. Exterior view, closer view of exhibit.
273 ft. 'Port of London Authority pavilion'.
278 ft. 'Scenes of general interest'. Fountain, artificial lake, crowd and pavilions.
295 ft. '5ZB the first railway mobile transmitter in the empire'. Exterior shot railway carriage.
300 ft. 'Playland provides fun in plenty for young and old alike'. Roller coaster, ferris wheel, crazy house, merry-go-round, fun fair rides, Chinese theatre, ghost train, dodgems, giant slide, shark pool, boats.
384 ft. 'As the sun goes down the magnificence of the illuminations leave their happy memories'. View of carillion & fountain illuminated. Pavilions lit up.
436 ft. End.