What was happening in NZ/Aotearoa in 1939?

A brief glimpse at who we once were.

So, I guess you could say 1939 was the year World War 2 started and pretty much leave it at that. Fairly significant stuff to be fair.

But what defines a nation and its culture is never about just one huge thing, so let’s take a wander down the dusty byways of this epic year and see what we see.

It would seem that Interislander ferries are back to draw our attention (again) and this time, only one poor unfortunate soul was involved. William Snodgrass, a member of the Legislative Council (this was our Upper House, similar to the UK House of Lords and didn’t vote itself out of existence until 1951) somehow went over the side during an overnight Arahura journey from Wellington to Nelson. Not so much as a pocket handkerchief or a monocle were recovered. This mystery remains to this day.

On September 3rd, NZ declared war on Germany in line with our friends/colleagues/overlords – Britain. I have no doubt that NZs declaration of war had Hitler quaking in his boots.

In a nose thumbing at future climate consequences, on October 31st, the Strongman Coal Mine was opened near Greymouth. It operated successfully until 1967 when a disastrous gas explosion killed 19 miners. Without wanting to be any more cynical than is richly warranted, the cause was the same as Pike River – utterly inadequate safety provisions. To the best of my knowledge Peter Whittall was nowhere Strongman, so obviously we have a rich history of mine managers who value coal over the lives of men.

In November, The NZ Centennial Exhibition opened in Wellington to commemorate 100 years since the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. In perfect keeping with traditional Maori structures, it was designed as a pure Art Deco thing and featured a 155 foot Centennial Tower. To give some idea of the lack of things to do back then, over 2,600,000 people trudged along for a bit of a gander.

In December, our very own warship HMS Archilles got amongst things on the River Plate against the German behemoth Admiral Graf Spee. Soon after the ship was scuttled. Good boys!

Born in 1939 was Ken Comber and Don MacKinnon, both destined to be notable politicians and also Ivan Mauger the legendary speedway rider.

On the other end of the spectrum, Malcolm Champion, our first ever Olympic gold medallist in swimming died and so did Robin Hyde, a highly respected poet and author.

Also on the train to be with Jesus was TW Ratana whose claim to fame was establishing the Ratana Church, still going strong all these decades later.

Our economy changed significantly after 1939. The war effort stimulated the economy and led to greater manufacturing and production occurring here than had been the case before and we had our trotters pretty deeply in the trough of American money through the latter part of the war.

We also had quite a shift in social order as happened throughout the world, with men going off to fight, women, previously considered too dainty and frail to do “real work” marching in and doing every conceivable “man’s work” and being a bit embarrassing for the blokes by often doing it better.

On the big screen we were watching Gone With The Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Mr Smith Goes Th Washington and Stagecoach, a western that helped launch John Wayne as a major star. I have to say, I’m going to hunt out Mr Smith Goes To Washington to watch again because the story it tells is one so incredibly pertinent to the corruption and evil-doing that is decimating Washington as we speak. In fact, I’ve just done a wee search and it’s available on Apple TV and Prime.

Like with movies, the music scene was not terribly well established in 1939, so like much of the world, we were listening to Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman and the Andrews Sisters. Here’s a wee look at them in full swing.

Glenn Miller - In The Mood | Colorized (1941) 4K

Benny Goodman - In a Sentimental Mood

Andrews Sisters Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

Just to finish off, have a look at what Christina Aguileira did with the Andrews Sisters style this century.

Christina Aguilera - Candyman (Official Video)

So, I guess that’s us in 1939.