Sorter finds early NZ records
A copy of New Zealand’s first commercial audio recording has been uncovered in Wellington.
The 78rpm 1927 acoustic recording of Medley and Haka by Rotorua singer Ana Hato and a chorus was found by Patricia Thompson as she was sorting donated goods for the St Michael’s and Kelburn Village Fair, which is on this Saturday.
It had been donated anonymously among boxes of old 78rpm records left at the church.
The boxes also included a 1930 Parlophone studio recording of He Puru Taitama, by Otaki family group The Tahiwis.
‘‘The records were very dusty and clearly mice had been sharing the case with them,’’ Thompson said.
‘‘Most were Australian yodelling songs or classics by Gracie Fields and Bing Crosby, but these two stood out because of the Maori-themed labels.’’
After some research, she discovered she had stumbled on a slice of New Zealand musical history. Both records sounded great, though the Tahiwis one – a studio rather than live recording – was clearer.
‘‘We know the records aren’t of great monetary value, but they are of historic interest and we would like them to go to a suitable new home.’’
If a public institution did not have a copy of the records and wanted them, Thompson said she would happily pass them on.
Featuring a B-side of Teope Tuatahi, the His Master’s Voice (HMV) Hato record was recorded during the visit to Rotorua by the Duke and Duchess of York – later to become King George VI and Queen Elizabeth – in 1927.
Sarah Johnston, from Nga Taonga Sound and Vision, confirmed the record was the first commercial music recorded in New Zealand.
Parlophone staff travelled from Sydney to do the recording and returned to Sydney where the songs were put on discs.
While they were the oldest commercial records made in New Zealand, they were not the oldest recordings.
At least two decades before their release, Maori music was recorded on wax Edison Cylinders, but these were not commercial.
It was not known how many of the Hato records were produced but they were not particularly rare, Johnston said.
Blue Smoke, released in 1949, was the first record recorded and produced in New Zealand.