Ensuring a Digital Past for Small Communities

On 22 November 2024 Lachy Paterson presented “Community Newspapers: Ensuring a Digital Past” at the Centre for the Book Symposium in Dunedin. The presentation was prepared by him and Ross Harvey, board members of The Preserving Local History & Educational Trust/Te Pupuri i ngā Hītori o te Rohe Trust.

In it they examine two historical newspapers, the Devonport Gazette and the Ruapehu Bulletin, showing how researchers might approach them. They also note the dangers facing many community newspapers in New Zealand, and the Trust’s efforts to preserve historical community newspapers into the future through digitisation.

The Trust has digitised the Devonport Gazette (and its successor the North Shore Gazette) and the Ruapehu Bulletin (previously the Waimarino Bulletin) as part of its Your Stories project. These and other community newspapers are now available on the Trust’s Recollect site for the benefit of all. They can be viewed here.

This presentation was recorded after the symposium, and is available to watch.