Managers of New Zealand Post Office radio stations were in the early days referred to as Officers in Charge, then later as Superintendents, and finally as Managers.
Officers in Charge
John L Davies, 26 May 1913 – 1914. More
Ralph S Wheeler, 24 May 1914 – 1916. More
WFC (Frank) Whiteman, 6 September 1916 – 1917. More
Les H Steel, 8 October 1917 – 1918 and 1919-1920. More
Superintendents
Alf Pellow, from 25 August 1920. More
ALM (Les) Willis, from 16 February 1923. More
T Gates, from 21 October 1926. More
LJ (Les) Elliston, from 4 April 1930. More
D McMahon, from 26 February 1933. More
CN Hair, from 18 November 1940. More
JU (Jack) Bonisch, from 14 November 1944. More
CR Wyllie, from 22 October 1952. More
Patrick J Columb, 3 June 1953 – 1957. More
JF (Jack) Ryan, 31 August 1957 – 1966. More
KW Walford, from 31 January 1966. More
DC Boyes, from 9 May 1967. More
Dennis E Horan, from 29 September 1967. More
Managers
Brian J Donaldson, 1975 – 6 July 1981. More
Lester J Price, 21 September 1981 – 1985. More
Paul D Burke, 11 Dec 1985 – 15 Feb 1989. More
NN (Tai) Rio, from 16 Feb 1989 until the station closed in 1991.
Thank you to Stephanie Day for assistance with preparing this list.
List of staff from the 75th Anniversary Scrapbook – 1988
Updates
I think corrections are required between the names D Condell and K Holt. There were at least two Shearers working in radio around that time. One was Dave Shearer, Radio Technician (working at ZLW/Makara) and the other was Dave Shearer (Supervisor, Room 53) Neither of them were anywhere near ZLC in 1958.
Enter me arriving at the Chathams 15.12.56 and leaving there on or about 12.5.1958 based on Dave Smith’s arrival (he relieved me) – thus:
D Condell: 3. 7. 1956 – 14.11.58
R C Williams: 15. 12. 1956 – ?. 5. 1958
D C Smith: 12. 5. 1958 – 4. 2. 1959– Clyde Williams
JK (Bill) Riley was an operator c1947-1949, during which time he married Noelene on the Chathams. According to electoral rolls, they lived in Karori in 1949. They returned to the Chathams in 1952 and stayed until approximately 1958, during which time Bill was again an operator at ZLC.
I’m pretty sure Ken Wyatt was appointed a supervisor after AP Meek left.
M James refers to MJ Haurua. When he joined the PO the recruiting guy said Haurua was difficult to pronounce so suggested he use his second name, James, as his surname.
NRD Marshall says 14.2.1979 to 14.8.1978. Probably a typo. Likely departed 14.8.1979.
– Paul Burke (Mar 2019)
Profiles
R Clyde Williams
“I arrived by flying boat on 15 December 1956. The following day Prince Phillip aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia arrived at the Chathams Islands. He only stayed one day and I stayed 513 days.”
Just come to the website looking at Gothic fire, had an uncle who was electrical officer on her. I did a couple of stints at ZLC first was 6 months from may to November??? 1969 and 6 – 9 months ish?? ending september 1973 I also did a couple of relief spells and a non-work visit some time up to 1982?? also very”ish”
When I was at the Post Office Radio Training School at Trentham in 1970, Irwin Smith was the chief tutor. Could have been the same chap.
Brain explosion. The operator I relieved at ZLC Dec 1956 Irwin (Smith)? I had never heard of him before I arrived and I cannot recall ever hearing of him again. Where did he end up?
I am sure it would have been he. Thanks