Stephen Clarke
@stephenclarkenz.bsky.social
History Squire for Hire.
Meri Kirihimete Ōtepoti 🎄
A tough departure tonight and for Dad’s sake I’m hoping I won’t need to be back before 2026 but if need be I’m back here in an instant!
A tough departure tonight and for Dad’s sake I’m hoping I won’t need to be back before 2026 but if need be I’m back here in an instant!
November 26, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Meri Kirihimete Ōtepoti 🎄
A tough departure tonight and for Dad’s sake I’m hoping I won’t need to be back before 2026 but if need be I’m back here in an instant!
A tough departure tonight and for Dad’s sake I’m hoping I won’t need to be back before 2026 but if need be I’m back here in an instant!
Unfortunately I arrive back in Auckland too late tonight to attend my old school mate @craigrobertson.bsky.social’s book launch but if you’re in Tāmaki Makaurau tonight pop into Real Groovy and celebrate the launch of the new Chris Knox biography. 🍻 #nzmusic #nzbooks #books #auckland
November 25, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Unfortunately I arrive back in Auckland too late tonight to attend my old school mate @craigrobertson.bsky.social’s book launch but if you’re in Tāmaki Makaurau tonight pop into Real Groovy and celebrate the launch of the new Chris Knox biography. 🍻 #nzmusic #nzbooks #books #auckland
Confirmation from the wee guy (actually he’s 12 now and this photo was when he was six) that after a domestic sabbatical he’s keen to play Tags, Sevens and probably the XV game too next year in Year 8 for his Henderson Intermediate as well as basketball and netball. #TwentyTwentySix 🏉
November 25, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Confirmation from the wee guy (actually he’s 12 now and this photo was when he was six) that after a domestic sabbatical he’s keen to play Tags, Sevens and probably the XV game too next year in Year 8 for his Henderson Intermediate as well as basketball and netball. #TwentyTwentySix 🏉
Ooft!
21 years later and this still delivers for the guy in the ‘unguessed tomb’.
21 years later and this still delivers for the guy in the ‘unguessed tomb’.
November 24, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Ooft!
21 years later and this still delivers for the guy in the ‘unguessed tomb’.
21 years later and this still delivers for the guy in the ‘unguessed tomb’.
A big day in the old town today. #DunedinWritersWalk
November 24, 2025 at 8:24 PM
A big day in the old town today. #DunedinWritersWalk
Hills Hats has a phenomenal collection hillshats.co.nz and the Pledge Me deals are good www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/869... WEAR A HAT!
November 24, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Hills Hats has a phenomenal collection hillshats.co.nz and the Pledge Me deals are good www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/869... WEAR A HAT!
Kids, so 40 years ago this month if you were nice and not naughty during 6th Form (Y12) you got UE accredited and the prize of a tramp in the Southern Alps. We got an extra day in the Rees Valley due to flooding but the boys’ spirits were raised by the arrival of the charming Peta Carey (Spot On!)
November 19, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Kids, so 40 years ago this month if you were nice and not naughty during 6th Form (Y12) you got UE accredited and the prize of a tramp in the Southern Alps. We got an extra day in the Rees Valley due to flooding but the boys’ spirits were raised by the arrival of the charming Peta Carey (Spot On!)
100 years ago today the New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition opened in Dunedin as captured by A P Godber. Billed as ‘The Greatest Spectacle Ever Held in the Dominion!’ this was no hype with 3.2M visitors it remains the largest public event in New Zealand history. #TheBigShow #Dunedin
November 16, 2025 at 8:52 PM
100 years ago today the New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition opened in Dunedin as captured by A P Godber. Billed as ‘The Greatest Spectacle Ever Held in the Dominion!’ this was no hype with 3.2M visitors it remains the largest public event in New Zealand history. #TheBigShow #Dunedin
Harold ‘Hec’ Browett (1934–2025) www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin... past pupil and my Economics teacher at King’s High School, Dunedin. In 2006, I had the pleasure to reconnect on the trip to London for the dedication of the NZ Memorial (here sharing his infectious laugh with PM Helen Clark) RIP Hec
November 15, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Harold ‘Hec’ Browett (1934–2025) www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin... past pupil and my Economics teacher at King’s High School, Dunedin. In 2006, I had the pleasure to reconnect on the trip to London for the dedication of the NZ Memorial (here sharing his infectious laugh with PM Helen Clark) RIP Hec
The All Blacks 1924-25 'Invincibles' kiwi mascot can be seen here at the end of this British Pathe film britishpathe.com/asset/51107/ after the 17-11 victory over England at Twickenham. #ENGvNZL #rugby 💯
November 14, 2025 at 10:45 PM
The All Blacks 1924-25 'Invincibles' kiwi mascot can be seen here at the end of this British Pathe film britishpathe.com/asset/51107/ after the 17-11 victory over England at Twickenham. #ENGvNZL #rugby 💯
Dunedin rugby enthusiast David George Gray was responsible for the All Blacks 1924-25 Tour mascot, a stuffed kiwi with its own specially-designed wooden travelling case. As a gift destined for the first team to beat the All Blacks, the 'Invincibles' kiwi returned home. #ENGvNZL #rugby #kiwi
November 14, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Ahead of England v All Blacks at Twickenham the coin tossed 100 years ago in the last game of the tour of the Home Nations on 3 Jan 1925. So the story goes Referee Albert Freethy came onto the field coinless so All Blacks party member D G Gray, of Dunedin, quickly lent him a florin. #ENGvNZL #rugby
November 14, 2025 at 10:41 PM
100 years ago today ‘New Zealand's Girl Athletes: Scenes at the Inter-House Sports in Auckland on November 14’.
So many questions about this event but if run again today I’m feeling it’s a run-off between Briscoes and Farmers! (My bet would be on Briscoe Group strengthened by Rebel Sports)
So many questions about this event but if run again today I’m feeling it’s a run-off between Briscoes and Farmers! (My bet would be on Briscoe Group strengthened by Rebel Sports)
November 13, 2025 at 10:47 PM
100 years ago today ‘New Zealand's Girl Athletes: Scenes at the Inter-House Sports in Auckland on November 14’.
So many questions about this event but if run again today I’m feeling it’s a run-off between Briscoes and Farmers! (My bet would be on Briscoe Group strengthened by Rebel Sports)
So many questions about this event but if run again today I’m feeling it’s a run-off between Briscoes and Farmers! (My bet would be on Briscoe Group strengthened by Rebel Sports)
Saddened to hear of the death of former Chief Archivist Stephen Clarke. Aroha nui to the Clarke whānau.
November 13, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Saddened to hear of the death of former Chief Archivist Stephen Clarke. Aroha nui to the Clarke whānau.
Black Window – Towards Aramoana by Ralph Hotere (1981)
35 years ago tonight I vividly remember the stream of ambulances and police cars speeding past my flat in George Street heading to the Otago Harbour settlement of Aramoana where 13 were killed by a lone shooter. #BlackDay
35 years ago tonight I vividly remember the stream of ambulances and police cars speeding past my flat in George Street heading to the Otago Harbour settlement of Aramoana where 13 were killed by a lone shooter. #BlackDay
November 13, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Black Window – Towards Aramoana by Ralph Hotere (1981)
35 years ago tonight I vividly remember the stream of ambulances and police cars speeding past my flat in George Street heading to the Otago Harbour settlement of Aramoana where 13 were killed by a lone shooter. #BlackDay
35 years ago tonight I vividly remember the stream of ambulances and police cars speeding past my flat in George Street heading to the Otago Harbour settlement of Aramoana where 13 were killed by a lone shooter. #BlackDay
Long time listener to the plaudits of colleagues and so this morning became a first time caller to Hard To Find bookshop in Dowling Street and could not resist this fine signed hard copy by my mentor and friend, and an upgrade on my original softcover from the 1980s. #Dunedin #books #Otago #history
November 13, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster, former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming and Officer B. That’s right, all creepy as fuck! #BoysInBlue #Ick
November 12, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster, former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming and Officer B. That’s right, all creepy as fuck! #BoysInBlue #Ick
I was living in Australia in 1995 and the Royal Commission into the New South Wales Police Service (Wood Royal Commission) and these revelations reveal our own underbelly.
#RoyalCommission #NZPolice
#RoyalCommission #NZPolice
November 11, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I was living in Australia in 1995 and the Royal Commission into the New South Wales Police Service (Wood Royal Commission) and these revelations reveal our own underbelly.
#RoyalCommission #NZPolice
#RoyalCommission #NZPolice
“The proclamation which you have just heard read by the Governor-General’s official secretary was countersigned ‘Malcolm Fraser’ who will undoubtedly go down in Australian history from Remembrance Day 1975 as Kerr’s cur.”
— Gough Whitlam #TheDismissal50
— Gough Whitlam #TheDismissal50
November 11, 2025 at 3:08 AM
“The proclamation which you have just heard read by the Governor-General’s official secretary was countersigned ‘Malcolm Fraser’ who will undoubtedly go down in Australian history from Remembrance Day 1975 as Kerr’s cur.”
— Gough Whitlam #TheDismissal50
— Gough Whitlam #TheDismissal50
In 2006 they were exhumed and restored, and last year both were mounted at Boiler Point, Port Chalmers. BOOM! BOOM!
November 10, 2025 at 7:47 AM
In 2006 they were exhumed and restored, and last year both were mounted at Boiler Point, Port Chalmers. BOOM! BOOM!
The Cenotaph and former coastal defence guns at Queens Gardens in Dunedin, ca. early 1930s before the guns were dismantled and buried here in 1936.
November 10, 2025 at 7:46 AM
The Cenotaph and former coastal defence guns at Queens Gardens in Dunedin, ca. early 1930s before the guns were dismantled and buried here in 1936.
Tomorrow will be the first Remembrance Day in over 30 years that I’ll be back home in Dunedin. #RemembranceDay
![Queen’s Gardens, Dunedin [c.a. early 1930s] Hocken Collections](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5r6ajktq4gbopiqigraobabo/bafkreihubq2dxt6irgj4klbx7ruj7tosp2doedce4gbdzpiqfvbe2hhsda@jpeg)
November 10, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Tomorrow will be the first Remembrance Day in over 30 years that I’ll be back home in Dunedin. #RemembranceDay