Take another look at community newsletters ...

If you're looking for information on events in your area in the recent past you'll probably turn to your local newspaper. Suburban newspapers such as the Howick & Pakuranga Times, Eastern Courier, Manukau Courier, Papakura Courier and Post (Waiuku) can be invaluable sources of local news. However, these newspapers each cover quite a wide area and may not have quite the level of detail you want. In some areas, community groups also publish monthly or quarterly newsletters, which include a different range of views.

One of the longest-lived examples of this type of newsletter is the Whitford Turanga Newsreel. This began publication as the Turanga Newsreel in 1947 and has come out unfailingly with 11 issues per year full of Whitford news ever since. A complete set is held at South Auckland Research Centre.


Ref: Footprints 01469, South Auckland Research Centre

Similar titles include the Informer (Hunua), Kaiaua Compass, Karaka Chronicle, Peninsularama (Manukau Peninsula), and Weymouth News. Check the Auckland Libraries catalogue for details of library holdings.

Sometimes community newsletters go on to bigger things. The Pohutukawa Coast Times, a fully-fledged weekly newspaper covering the Beachlands, Maraetai and Clevedon areas, began life as a community newsletter called the Town Crier in 1971.

Author: Bruce Ringer, South Auckland Research Centre