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  Seclusion Room, with lockable window Porirua Ladies

The attitudes towards caring for the mentally ill in New Zealand have changed dramatically over the last 70 years.

When Ngaere and Rita began nursing in the late 1930s it was mainly the custodial care and containment of psychiatric "patients". In the 40s Ngaere was one the of the first to assist with Electro Convulsive Therapy (E.C.T.) at Porirua Mental Hospital. Later medication began to reduce the need for "consumers" to be contained and the idea of community care began to be implemented.

Porirua Ladies follows Ngaere and Rita - now aged in their 80s - as they tour around the Porirua Hospital Museum with curator Bruce Shepherd.

As the tour of the museum progresses we are gradually introduced to the poetry and reflections of Meg who talks about her experiences as a patient at Porirua on-and-off from the 1950s.

A full transcript of this feature is available online along with poetry dealing with some of the experiences of being a patient.


Broadcasts:   Sunday 16 January 2005, at 6pm on National Radio.

Duration: 53 minutes


00:00 Former nurses Ngaere and Rita, and Bruce - the current museum curator - begin walking around the outside of the old F Ward - now the Porirua Hospital Museum.
06:47 Meg, a former patient, reads her poem "What Dreams May Come".
08:00 Ngaere, Rita, and Bruce continue walking around the outside of F Ward.
12:50 Ngaere describes the interior of F Ward.
15:53 Meg reads "Woman in Ward 10".
17:00 Bruce and Ngaere look at an old map of Porirua Mental Hospital.
18:58 Bruce brings out a book of old patient records.
21:38 Meg reads "Glimpses into Porirua Mental Hospital".
23:10 Ngaere, standing in the main dormitory, describes the daily routine.
34:50 Meg reads "Hole in the Head".
36:10 Ngaere flicks a light switch in the corridor and describes the night rituals.
39:40 Meg reflects on being committed to Porirua Mental Hospital.

00:00 Ngaere, Rita and Bruce in the Seclusion Room.
08:03 Meg talks about E.C.T. treatment.
10:26 Bruce and Ngaere have a cup-of-tea while looking through the Official Visitors Book.
16:48 Meg talks about the reduction of her world.
19:35 Ngaere reflects in the Seclusion Room.
25:00 Meg’s thoughts as a patient.
32:15 Ngaere reflects on the changes in treatment.
35:04 Meg reflects on Porirua Hospital Museum.
39:20 Ngaere's final thoughts.