Episodes

There are seven 1-hour episodes and two bonus half-hour episodes in this limited series. Originally launched on 8 March 2022 on community radio Wellington Access Radio station, episodes were broadcast once a week for 8 weeks.

In 2023 we are relaunching the podcast, with episodes released weekly by StorycollectiveNZ.

You can also listen to ‘Keystrokes per Minute’ on the following platforms.

Bonus Episode Valuing the Profession – Keystrokes Per Minute

Lifetime member and former National President of the Association of Administrative Professionals NZ, Eth Lloyd, MNZM, fills us in on the history and extensive programme of work over the last 50 years. — Find transcripts and more at http://www.storycollective.nz  Find StorycollectiveNZ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. — This podcast is only made possible thanks to the work of the Keystrokes Oral History Project, find out more at http://www.storycollective.nz/background Funding support from the State Services Commission (NZ) and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage (NZ).  Soundtrack with permission and thanks from The Boston Typewriter Orchestra, find their music on bandcamp.com © Copyright 2017 Meg Melvin as StorycollectiveNZ
  1. Bonus Episode Valuing the Profession
  2. Bonus Episode Govt Typists Strike
  3. Episode 7 The Public Service & Women’s Work
  4. Episode 6 The Impact of Technology
  5. Episode 5 Life in the Typing Pool Part 3
  6. Episode 4 Life in the Typing Pool Part 2
  7. Episode 3 Life in the Typing Pool Part 1
  8. Episode 2 The Role of Education Part 2
  9. Episode 1 The Role of Education, Part 1

Transcripts

Episode Themes

Black and white photo of teenage students sat at typewriters in a classroom while other students are standing in the background

The Role of Education

Interviewees tell us about their upbringing, their experiences of secondary school education in NZ, and the impactful influence of their parents and schools on their subject choices and future pathways to employment. 

Life in the Typing Pool

Interviewees tell us about how they got their first job, what those first few days or weeks were like, how their work was organised, who was in charge and regale us with stories from their time and era. 

Imperial 66 Typewriter

The Impact of Technology

The evolution of technology had a great effect on typists and the typing pools. From typewriters to the complicated language of Shorthand, we hear about the different equipment of each era, and some of the typing ‘hacks’ that typists used.

Public Service & Women’s Work

Social attitudes of the day were reflected in the Public Service bureaucracy and limitations placed on women’s progression. The State Services Act 1988 changed the landscape for all public servants and coincided with typists battling to be seen as more than
“Just a typist.”