Post researched and written by Amanda Mills, Curator Music and AV On Saturday, 26 May, Hocken hosted a public performance event to celebrate both Music Month, and some treasures of our sheet music collection. These are only a few of the gems in the collection, and items that deserve an airing to a contemporary audience. […]

Post researched and written by Amanda Mills – Liaison Librarian Audio-Visual and Music August was inaugural Māori music month, a celebration of Māori music around the country of all genres. The first music recorded in New Zealand was indeed Māori, when Ana Hato and Deane Waretini were recorded singing a number of songs, including Hine […]

Post prepared by Amanda Mills, Liaison Librarian – AV and Music Have you ever heard of the New Zealand Christmas classic “I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” by Pat McMinn and the Combie Murdoch Trio? No? How about Pixie Williams singing “Best Wishes”?  These are only two of the many New Zealand Christmas classic tracks […]

Blog post prepared by Amanda Mills, Liaison Librarian – Music and AV Johnny Cooper (the ‘Maori Cowboy’) was a local rock’n’roll hero. Cooper grew up on a Te Reinga farm in the 1930s, becoming a fan of Gene Autry during his childhood. While living with his aunt and uncle, he listened to their 78rpm disc […]

Post prepared by Amanda Mills, Liaison Librarian – Music and AV Music Month has rolled around once again! This year, to draw attention to the recordings and music-themed material we have in the collections, we have created six posters that illustrate our interesting (and often decorative) holdings. The posters are currently displayed in the University […]

One of our most significant donations in 2009 was the Dr Mervyn McLean collection of Maori and Cook Islands music. The collection has been added to the archives and manuscripts section of the Library and is catalogued under the call number ARC-0613. It is fully listed on the Hakena catalogue. Right: Dr Mclean, Anne McLean and Professor John […]