Audio tapes for Ferrymead Historic Park

Press, 18 March 1988, Page 7

Audio tapes for Ferrymead Historic Park

Four automatic audio tape machines (will be installed at Ferrymead Historic Park. || The machines can be activated by visitors to provide a brief commentary on the importance of certain buildings and their historical associations within the park. The park’s director, Mr Robin Sutton,! said one machine had . already been installed in the pre--1920 New Zealand township’s schooT (house and another would | go' into the Victorian Cottage' within the next two weeks. The third will I be installed either in the motor garage, the blacksmith’s shdp or the church, and a fourth will be used for special exhibitions. The tapes (have been prepared by ( Radio 3ZB staff and the machines were bought I with funds from the Lotteries Board and Friends of Ferry - mead. However, the machines

eventually would be replaced by costumed interpreters, said Mr Sutton. The park had been recruiting interpreters for the last seven to eight months and had trained seven whom it hoped to start at the park within a month.

“We had hoped to have everything ready in time for the next summer season but it is proving more difficult than we thought to find suitable people,” he said. Ideally the park required between 15 and 20 interpreters each day, but those recruited so far had been mainly retired people who were able to provide their services only one or two days a week.

“We may need to find anywhere up to 50 people. But we are being realistic about this and certainly do not expect it to happen overnight,” Mr Sutton said.