For 70 years the RNZFB has been proudly distributing talking books in New Zealand – giving blind, deafblind and vision-impaired New Zealanders the opportunity to enjoy books like their sighted peers.

Right Hon. Helen Clark, RNZFB Divisional Manager Mary Schnackenberg, RNZFB CEO Paula Daye and the Minister for National Library Judith Tizard

To celebrate the milestone, an event was held in Auckland on 29 April. It included talks by Prime Minister Helen Clark and His Excellency George Ferguson, British High Commissioner, whose father Brigadier Sir Bernard Ferguson, officially opened our recording studios in 1966 when he was Governor-General.

Mary Schnackenberg, RNZFB Divisional Manager Adaptive Support, and organiser of the event, says the importance of talking books for Foundation members is enormous.  

Here are some of the highlights of 70 years of Talking Books in New Zealand:

• 1937: Talking books are introduced -- slow playing gramophone records with the average talking book occupying about six records. 137 titles are brought from the American Foundation for the Blind, and 24 talking book machines are delivered by March.
• 1961: Records are replaced with talking books on Clarke and Smith Mk1 cassettes.
• 1966: The Foundation opens its own talking book studios enabling the recording of New Zealand titles as well as overseas titles that could not be purchased from other talking book producers.
• 1969: Clarke and Smith Mk1 cassettes are replaced by Clarke and Smith Mk4 cassettes.
• 1986: The Foundation begins to record talking books in the Library of Congress four track format allowing six hours of sound to be recorded on one 90 minute cassette. 
• 1987: The Foundation expands the magazine service begun by the Association of Blind Citizens New Zealand Inc.
• 1996: The Foundation joins a consortium to develop the Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY).
• 2002: The Foundation commences recording in the DAISY 2.02 standard.
• 2006: The Foundation successfully develops and trials the world's first internet capable digital talking book player suitable for blind senior citizens who do not use computers.
• 2007: The Foundation celebrates 70 years of talking books in New Zealand.