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Story: Telecommunications

Apirana Ngata on the phone

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Apirana Ngata on the phone

Using ‘wireless telephony’ Sir Apirana Ngata, on behalf of the acting prime minister, formally opened the telephone link to Australia in November 1930 with the words: ‘Tēnā koe. I hope you understand Māori over there in Australia …’

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: AAMF W3327 box 372

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How to cite this page

A. C. Wilson, Telecommunications – Post and Telegraph, 1914–1945, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/22016/apirana-ngata-on-the-phone (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by A. C. Wilson, published 13 April 2010, updated 1 April 2022.