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WCC, Summer City files
Descriptive Data
Archives Identifier00012Date Range1978-1994DescriptionThe Summer City files were created to document the day-to-day running of Summer City events between its beginnings in 1979 up until approximately 1994. The files are not in a formal classified system; most files are in a plain manila folder with a broad topic written on it, some files have a Summer City logo on the front.
Files in the series may contain activity outlines, decision making notes, submissions from performers, incoming and outgoing correspondence, newspaper clippings, promotional material, reports, diaries and summaries of specific Summer City events. The record keeping practices for the Summer City files seem better in some years than in others, for example, reporting on individual events and activities is common in some years and not others, therefore there are some inconsistencies in the level of information available from this series.
The genesis of Summer City goes back to May 1978, when the New Zealand Council of Recreation and Sport (NZCRS) announced a Nationwide Family Recreation Programme. The aim of this programme was to promote family recreation through the encouragement of local organisations that ‘provide facilities and organise activities’. The NZCRS sent a memo to Wellington City Council to ask for participation, they requested that a City Councillor to be provided as a liaison between the NZCRS and WCC. Councillor S K Spry, Chairman of the Parks and Reserves Committee, was the elected liaison Councillor.
In October 1978 City Councillors proposed to “bring all planned summer activities under one promotional umbrella: - City of Wellington – Summer 79. The recreation scheme was developed with two major aims:
1. to provide good recreational opportunities during the summer, to commence as schools close and to wind down as schools re-open, and
2. to offer worthwhile job opportunities in order to assist the unemployed situation over summer.
An attempt was made to use temporary employment programme labour exclusively. In January 1979 the Summer 79 programme began. Activities commenced on Saturday 6th of January and continued through to late February / early March. Activities were centred at the Zoological Gardens, Wellington East Girls College, Onslow College and various Parks and Gardens (including the Botanic Gardens). In 1979 the Labour Department approved the employment of students to complement the temporary employees that would be hired to support the WCC summer activities (The Student Community Service Programme ceased in 1982).
In November 1979 proposals to call the summer programme for 1979/80 Summer City and to seek sponsorship for it were approved by the Staff and Reserves Committee. In its early days of ‘Summer City’ the WCC Parks and Recreation department and the Wellington Community Arts Council promoted all events organised under the ‘Summer City’ umbrella. From as early as 1981 WCC Parks and Recreation Department staff worked on Summer City from the middle of each year. A designated Recreation Officer began meetings with Festival Staff mid-year and at the commencement of the ‘Summer City’ programme this person became the Summer City Director. The WCC Public Relations Office assisted in planning the events, coordinated print and promotional requirements, oversaw press and publicity activities, and acted as a distribution point for publicity. The Government Labour Department also provided temporary staff to work around ‘Summer City’ events. Temporary staff were employed from mid-year, and there were gradually more employed up to the commencement of the ‘Summer City’ programme. The Wellington City Arts Centre (WCAC) Trust Board was also involved in the ‘Summer City’ programme. At the commencement of each programme WCAC “could be asked to provide an Artistic Director” and a number of artists / performers. From 1980, the core Parks and Recreation staff working on ‘Summer City’ were John Dawson and Di Jordan. In December 1982, Parks and Recreation officer John Dawson is referred to as the Summer City Director and Di Jordan his assistant.
The kind of activities involved in a typical Summer City programme included: New Years Eve celebrations, lunchtime activities, fireworks displays, fun runs, a week long international festival, the Gut Buster competition, three weeks of entertainment in The Dell in the Botanic Gardens (The stage in The Dell was built specifically for Summer City events), the Harbour Spectacular, Motorcycle road racing, BMX Racing, Queen Elizabeth Park day, street parades, and a recreation skills coaching programme. All Summer City activities occurred through the close co-operation of the Wellington City Council and the Wellington Arts Centre Trust. The Wellington Arts Centre had particular involvement in the area of artistic programming and publicity, and the Parks and Recreation department had involvement in recreation, technical and sponsorship. The series was started under the Parks and Recreation Department and continued under the Culture and Recreation Division when Parks and Recreation became this in the early 1990’s.Quantity (Linear Metres)4.75MediumFileCollection TypeWellington City Council
Files in the series may contain activity outlines, decision making notes, submissions from performers, incoming and outgoing correspondence, newspaper clippings, promotional material, reports, diaries and summaries of specific Summer City events. The record keeping practices for the Summer City files seem better in some years than in others, for example, reporting on individual events and activities is common in some years and not others, therefore there are some inconsistencies in the level of information available from this series.
The genesis of Summer City goes back to May 1978, when the New Zealand Council of Recreation and Sport (NZCRS) announced a Nationwide Family Recreation Programme. The aim of this programme was to promote family recreation through the encouragement of local organisations that ‘provide facilities and organise activities’. The NZCRS sent a memo to Wellington City Council to ask for participation, they requested that a City Councillor to be provided as a liaison between the NZCRS and WCC. Councillor S K Spry, Chairman of the Parks and Reserves Committee, was the elected liaison Councillor.
In October 1978 City Councillors proposed to “bring all planned summer activities under one promotional umbrella: - City of Wellington – Summer 79. The recreation scheme was developed with two major aims:
1. to provide good recreational opportunities during the summer, to commence as schools close and to wind down as schools re-open, and
2. to offer worthwhile job opportunities in order to assist the unemployed situation over summer.
An attempt was made to use temporary employment programme labour exclusively. In January 1979 the Summer 79 programme began. Activities commenced on Saturday 6th of January and continued through to late February / early March. Activities were centred at the Zoological Gardens, Wellington East Girls College, Onslow College and various Parks and Gardens (including the Botanic Gardens). In 1979 the Labour Department approved the employment of students to complement the temporary employees that would be hired to support the WCC summer activities (The Student Community Service Programme ceased in 1982).
In November 1979 proposals to call the summer programme for 1979/80 Summer City and to seek sponsorship for it were approved by the Staff and Reserves Committee. In its early days of ‘Summer City’ the WCC Parks and Recreation department and the Wellington Community Arts Council promoted all events organised under the ‘Summer City’ umbrella. From as early as 1981 WCC Parks and Recreation Department staff worked on Summer City from the middle of each year. A designated Recreation Officer began meetings with Festival Staff mid-year and at the commencement of the ‘Summer City’ programme this person became the Summer City Director. The WCC Public Relations Office assisted in planning the events, coordinated print and promotional requirements, oversaw press and publicity activities, and acted as a distribution point for publicity. The Government Labour Department also provided temporary staff to work around ‘Summer City’ events. Temporary staff were employed from mid-year, and there were gradually more employed up to the commencement of the ‘Summer City’ programme. The Wellington City Arts Centre (WCAC) Trust Board was also involved in the ‘Summer City’ programme. At the commencement of each programme WCAC “could be asked to provide an Artistic Director” and a number of artists / performers. From 1980, the core Parks and Recreation staff working on ‘Summer City’ were John Dawson and Di Jordan. In December 1982, Parks and Recreation officer John Dawson is referred to as the Summer City Director and Di Jordan his assistant.
The kind of activities involved in a typical Summer City programme included: New Years Eve celebrations, lunchtime activities, fireworks displays, fun runs, a week long international festival, the Gut Buster competition, three weeks of entertainment in The Dell in the Botanic Gardens (The stage in The Dell was built specifically for Summer City events), the Harbour Spectacular, Motorcycle road racing, BMX Racing, Queen Elizabeth Park day, street parades, and a recreation skills coaching programme. All Summer City activities occurred through the close co-operation of the Wellington City Council and the Wellington Arts Centre Trust. The Wellington Arts Centre had particular involvement in the area of artistic programming and publicity, and the Parks and Recreation department had involvement in recreation, technical and sponsorship. The series was started under the Parks and Recreation Department and continued under the Culture and Recreation Division when Parks and Recreation became this in the early 1990’s.Quantity (Linear Metres)4.75MediumFileCollection TypeWellington City Council
Access Information
Restriction StatusOpen
Related Agencies
Controlling or Creating AgencyCulture and Recreation DivisionRelationship Date Range1991-1995
WCC, Summer City files. Archives Online, accessed 09/08/2026, https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/1528