So Many Stories

So Many Stories

Conversations with Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi

Join Christchurch City Libraries on the first Friday of each month at 9am on Plains FM and discover what our libraries are all about – connecting people, inspiring discovery, and enriching communities. Each show features stories from people who work in libraries, and the members of our community we engage with every day.

  • Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM first Friday of the month at 9am. The show plays again the next Sunday at 3.30pm. 
  • The next show is on Friday 5 April 2024.

2024 shows:
5 January, 2 February, 1 March, 5 April, 3 May, 7 June, 5 July, 2 August, 6 September, 4 October, 1 November, 6 December

 

Interview: Katie talks about dyslexia

Librarian Katie talks to Amy about dyslexia for an upcoming episode of So Many Stories.


[MP3, 17 minutes]

Confessions of a dyslexic librarian

Find out how Katie has rediscovered the joy of reading through accessible formats, namely eBooks and eAudiobooks.

Episode 28 - March 2024: 50th anniversary of the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games: Part Two

This episode will be broadcast on Wednesday 6 March 5pm to 6pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.

This special episode includes memories from athletes, organisers and staff who brought us this wonderful event.

75.67MB, 55 minutes 5 seconds

Wayne Hawker

Wendy talks to Wayne Hawker from the New Brighton Memorial Museum about their Games exhibition. The New Brighton Memorial Museum celebrated the Games anniversary in style, decking out their whole space with memorabilia.

6MB, 6 minutes 44 seconds


Les Rackley

Linda interviews Les Rackley, bronze medal winner in the boxing middleweight division:

3MB, 3 minutes 33 seconds


Brian Duffy

Brian Duffy, bronze medal winner in the weightlifting featherweight division:

7MB, 7 minutes 31 seconds


Garry Bell

Rachel talks to Garry Bell, cyclist in the 114-mile road race:

2MB, 2 minutes 38 seconds


Jaynie Hudgell (née Parkhouse)

Linda talks to Jaynie Hudgell (née Parkhouse) our 17 year old Gold and Bronze medal winner, in the 800m and 400m freestyle:

4MB, 4 minutes 34 seconds


Lorraine Moller

Linda speaks with Lorraine Moller who ran her lifetime best in the 800m (which is STILL the fastest ever time set by an under 20 NZ woman) and went on to be a 4-time Olympian:

8MB, 9 minutes 30 seconds


Dick Tayler

Gold medal winner in the 10000m Dick Tayler:

15MB, 17 minutes 7 seconds

 

Xth British Commonwealth Games 1974

The 1974 Commonwealth Games were known as the Friendly Games. They took place in Christchurch from 24 January to 2 February 1974.

Episode 27 - March 2024: 50th anniversary of the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games: Part One

This episode will be broadcast on Tuesday 5 March 5pm to 6pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.

This special episode includes memories from athletes, organisers and staff who brought us this wonderful event.
In this first part we will hear from the folks who made it happen, from security guards to drivers, committee members and media.

69.6MB, 50 minutes 40 seconds

Bruce Ullrich

Wendy speaks with Bruce Ullrich, Vice Chair of the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games Organising committee, who travelled far and wide to help bring the games to us in Ōtautahi.

41.8MB, 48 minutes 34 seconds

Check out his autobiography My Arena available at the library.

 


Garth Dale

Linda speaks with Garth Dale, secretary of the combined sports committee:

2MB, 2 minutes 25 seconds

 


Roger Tweedy

Linda interviews Roger Tweedy who was part of the Reception and Recreation committee:

4MB, 4 minutes 10 seconds


Sean Regan

Rachel talks with Games security guard Sean Regan:

3MB, 2 minutes 55 seconds


Joy Ryan-Bloore

Our next interviewee wanted to attend the Games as a spectator but ended up being offered a position as a technical official instead! Here’s Linda with Joy Ryan-Bloore:

4MB, 4 minutes 4 seconds

 


Jill Price

Rachel speaks with Jill Price who was a driver for some Games VIPs:

2MB, 2 minutes 46 seconds


Lynne Andrews

Rachel speaks with Lynne Andrews who was a news media hostess for the games, responsible for bringing us all the up-to-date excitement!

4MB, 4 minutes 26 seconds

Episode 26 - March 2024

This episode will be broadcast on Friday 1 March 9am, and will air again on Sunday 3 March 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.

Here is what you will hear in this episode:

  • Children’s and Young Adults Service Specialist Ky McWilliam talks Te Rā o Ngā Tamariki | Children’s Day
  • Content Manager Elaine Sides has everything you need to know about the annual Christchurch City Libraries Book Sale
  • Community Librarian Angela Romein looks forward to Pride
  • Kaitakawaenga Maatakiwi Wakefield shares updates from across the Māori and Multicultural Services team (Japan Day, Polyfest, programmes, and more!)

Episode 26

Japan Fiesta: Saturday 2 March 2024

Japan Fiesta is a new style of Japanese event. It focuses on Japanese pop culture such as anime, manga, and games.

Pou Kohikohinga in Residence at Matuku Takotako: Sumner

May 24th | 9:00am - 5:00pm
Have questions about the Māori collection or want help with kaupapa Māori research? Our Māori Collection specialists are onsite to help.

Pou Kohikohinga in Residence at Linwood Library

Apr 4th | 9:00am - 5:00pm
Have questions about the Māori collection or want help with kaupapa Māori research? Our Māori Collection specialists are onsite to help.

Big Bargain Book Sale - Friday 15 & Saturday 16 March 2024

Bag bargains at our annual book sale at the Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre! Friday 15 March 9am to 7pm; Saturday 16 March 9am to 4pm

Children's Day

Children’s Day is the first Sunday in March. It is a special day to spend time as a family.

Linwood - Roll For Pride - Dungeons & Dragons - 13+ years

Mar 22nd | 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Celebrate Pride Month by going on an epic adventure into the fun world of Dungeons & Dragons! Beginner-friendly session.

Me Kōrero Tātou, part of a series

Share your learning and learn from others - everyone is welcome, at any stage of your te reo Māori journey.

Māori Land Court Drop In Advisory Clinic @ Tūranga, part of a series

Staff from the Māori Land Court answer questions and provide advice on a range of enquiry types to do with Māori land.

Pride Book Club

Here’s what we chatted about at Pride Book Club.

Christchurch Pride: 15 to 31 March 2024

Christchurch Pride events for rangatahi - teens include book clubs, and making zines and badges.

Japan

Explore resources about Japan, books in Japanese, and celebrate cultural events.

Te Kāhui Ohua, part of a series

Te Kāhui Ohua is a casual, monthly reading group at Tūranga that celebrates the Ngā Pounamu Māori collection. All welcome!

Pasifika

Resources focusing on Pacific knowledge, heritage & identity, and supporting the learning and retention of Pacific languages and culture.

Ngā Moutere o te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa / Pasifika

Pasifika collection brings together titles focusing on Pacific knowledge, heritage and identity, and Pacific languages and culture.

Episode 25 - February 2024

This episode was broadcast on Friday 2 February 9am, and will air again on Sunday 4 February 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.

Here is what you will hear in this episode:

Community Librarian Wendy Blair talks with Exhibitions Curator Poppy Wallace-Bell about the Aotearoa Bike Challenge - how you can get involved, the benefits of cycling and just how far your bike can take you!

6MB, 7 minutes 11 seconds


Ocean lovers of all ages are invited to come along to New Brighton Library for Dune Day, a chance to celebrate and learn more about our unique coastal landscape. Community Librarian Jamie Stevenson spoke to Coastal Ranger Jason Roberts about his work protecting the dunes and what he’ll be offering on Dune Day.

2MB, 2 minutes 32 seconds


Community Librarian Wendy has all the details for fun in our libraries in February. There’s lots of Lunar New Year excitement and our regular programming is back for 2024. There are some great family days out and beautiful exhibitions to enjoy! Check out our website for details on these events and keep your ear out for our special Commonwealth Games episode later in the month.

6MB, 6 minutes 23 seconds


Our Māori and Multicultural Services team share an update on their kaupapa for February.

7MB, 7 minutes 37 seconds

Episode 25

What's on

Find out what's happening in libraries. Brochures are in libraries, or check online.

Cycling

Check out our page focused on cycling books, local cycling images, and resources.

Sanctuary exhibition: Ōtautahi Creative Spaces

Amplifying the Voices of Ōtautahi Creative Spaces’ Rangatahi Artists, Sanctuary explores the power of creativity for wellbeing.

Te Kāhui Ohua, part of a series

Te Kāhui Ohua is a casual, monthly reading group at Tūranga that celebrates the Ngā Pounamu Māori collection. All welcome!

Te Tiriti o Waitangi - The Treaty of Waitangi

An agreement made between Māori and the British Crown in 1840, it is New Zealand’s founding document. Read our backgrounder to the Treaty.

Lunar New Year 2024 - Year of the Dragon

Celebrate Lunar New Year! Events at libraries take place from 10 to 24 February 2024.

Justices of the Peace (JPs)

Justices of the Peace are in regular attendance at some of our libraries. Find out where and when.

Episode 24 - January 2024

This episode was broadcast on Friday 5 January 9am, and will air again on Sunday 7 January 3.30pm. Listen to So Many Stories on Plains FM.

Here is what you will hear in this episode:

Since 2015 Ōtautahi Creative Spaces (or OCS) has worked to build a creative community of people with experience of mental distress. Now, a group of rangatahi artists from OCS have staged what the organising team calls a “takeover” of Tūranga. At the heart of the Sanctuary project is the main exhibition in Te Pito Huarewa / Southbase Gallery, but the works of the over 30 artists represented spill out to every floor in Tūranga and may even turn up in your book! To find out more, Learning Specialist Amy Chiles and Community Librarian Jamie Stevenson spoke to organiser Audrey and artists Cahaya, Rebecca, and Samantha.
Find out more about the Sanctuary exhibiton.

5MB, 5 minutes 26 seconds


Kaitakawaenga Maatakiwi Wakefield with some friends from our Māori and Multicultural Services team:

  • Multicultural Liaison Amber and Multicultural Library Ambassador Pang Wei tell us all about Lunar New Year celebrations
  • Poukohikohinga Ngapiu and Julia let us know about three fabulous events in January
  • Pasifika Liaison Nora invites you to a special Storytime at Aranui Library
  • Maatakiwi gives us some valuable insight about Waitangi Day

8MB, 9 minutes 27 seconds


There’s so much to see and do in Ōtautahi this summer and here’s Community Outreach Librarian Wendy Blair with all the info on pool parties, parks, puppies, picnics and more! There’s also a Story Walk at the Arts Centre on Wednesday 17 January and lots of drop in arts and crafts activities at our libraries around the city, see our website for the full calendar of Summertime Reading fun!

5MB, 4 minutes 44 seconds

Episode 24

What's on

Find out what's happening in libraries. Brochures are in libraries, or check online.

International LEGO Day 2024 and Brick your Book competition

International LEGO Day is on 28 January 2024. You have the chance to win a prize in our Brick your book competition.

I Love My Pet - Shirley Library

If you want to do something for your pet during the holiday season, explore the "I Love My Pet" programmes at Shirley Library.

Sanctuary: Creative Occupation - OCS eCatalogue

Get to know the rangatahi artists involved. Read about the exhibition and the many activations that have been unleashed around Tūranga [PDF]

Sanctuary exhibition: Ōtautahi Creative Spaces

Amplifying the Voices of Ōtautahi Creative Spaces’ Rangatahi Artists, Sanctuary explores the power of creativity for wellbeing.

Summertime Reading

Discover summertime reads and events. Get ready for a summer filled with stories, adventures, and endless imagination!

Lunar New Year 2024 - Year of the Dragon

Celebrate Lunar New Year! Events at libraries take place from 10 to 24 February 2024.

Listen to episodes of So Many Stories

About PlainsFM

PlainsFM is radio by, for and about citizens and community! PlainsFM is an independent Community Access radio station located in Christchurch. You can listen to a diverse range of local programmes and talk to Plains about how to make your own radio show. They will help you promote your ideas and share your stories.

Listen to PlainsFM 
Plains FM broadcasts 24/7 on 96.9FM. More ways to listen.

About So Many Stories

Christchurch City Libraries is trialling having a show on PlainsFM, so we can take our stories out to a wider audience.  In our pilot four episodes, we will be: visiting different libraries; discovering the amazing staff who work there; and exploring services, resources, and programming. We'll also be talking about favourite books.

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