We have very few existing recordings of New Zealand children from the 1940s - especially of children just being children, Sarah says.
"If there are any recordings of children in the 1940s, they're being wheeled into a recording studio to sing a little song or something."
However, the first recording - of children at Whakarewarewa school in Rotorua in 1948 - is not of children learning te reo, it's first-language reo-speaking kids learning English.
"I think you can really feel the wairua, the spirit of the children in this.
"By the time those children from 1948 moved on to secondary school, sadly there were very few options for learning te reo."
Transcript excerpt below. For the recording, listen to RNZ at the link:
Teacher: Right we'll go onto the next word, what is it?
Children: 'Feed!'
Teacher: Now tell me about 'feed'?
Child: My mother will 'feed' the baby
Teacher: Right, next word is?
Children: 'Greed!'
Teacher: Now, what does 'greedy' mean?
Child: A boy is 'greedy'
Teacher: Why is a boy 'greedy'?
Child: He doesn't get anyone any kai!
Teacher: Yes, he doesn't get anyone any kai, he doesn't share anything with anyone, does he?
Te Moana-ā-Toi | Bay of Plenty | Rotorua | 1940-49 | Education
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