See New Zealand First

New Zealand Listener, Volume 20, Issue 500, 21 January 1949, Page 23

See New Zealand First

GENERALLY speaking the programmes broadcast by Radio New Zealand, the shortwave station of the NZBS, are intended for overseas ears, and are not of particular interest to local listeners. However, one of these programmes, which has been presenting over the past few months a dramatized radio picture of New Zealand’s scenic attractions (designed to interest prospective visitors and tourists), will shortly be broadcast from Station 4YZ Invercargill, Perhaps the idea is to lure holiday-makers up from the Deep South to-take a look at North Island attractions like Rotorua, Waitomo, or Ngauru-hoe-and vice versa. Or perhaps it just aims to tell listeners in an entertaining way a bit more about their country than they already know. Whatever the reason, the first episode of New ZealandPacific Playground will be heard from 4YZ at 8.20 p.m. on Monday, January 24. ; Ancient Maori legends, episodes from early history, and a general "description of the scenery, sporting facilities, and other features likely to attract tourists are included in the early programmes. Succeeding episodes deal with some of these things in detail. Episode Five, for ---- ~~

instance, is called "Thermal Wonder land." It starts off by retelling (with sound effects)~the legend according to which the glowing volcano of Ngauruhoe was set alight by the gods to warm an ancient Maori chief who was overtaken there by a storm, and goes on to describe the Geyser Valley at Wairakei, and, of course, Rotorua. . Episode Six is about the Marlborough Sounds, Episode Seven describes the Waitomo Caves, and Episode Twelve is on Milford Sound. History is not forgotten either, and one episode is devoted. to an account of the early golde mining days in the South. Others give a nut-shell. version of the development of some of the main cities, from the time of earliest colonists to the present day. Because Racific Playground was originally intended for overseas listeners it may seem at times to our more knowe ing ears to state the obvious, and to present its material from am ovete simplified point of view. ‘But there is still plenty in it that will be new and interesting to most people, Pacific Playground was produced by the NZBS with the assistance of the Tourist nore ment. —