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Story: Premiers and prime ministers

Visiting the troops

Video file

Peter Fraser, who became prime minister early in the Second World War, proved to be a capable and astute wartime leader. He also had a great concern for New Zealand soldiers, and visited front-line troops. In this newsreel, Fraser is addressing New Zealanders in Italy in 1944 and attending a performance staged by the legendary Kiwi Concert Party.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: Weekly Review 153. National Film Unit, 1944

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Gavin McLean, Premiers and prime ministers – Party leadership, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/33195/visiting-the-troops (accessed 3 June 2026).

Story by Gavin McLean, published 12 June 2012, updated 1 December 2016.