Joan Faulkner-Blake
Encyclopedia
Joan Faulkner-Blake was a professional New Zealand
broadcaster
in the mid to late twentieth century.
, Waikato
. After training as a journalist on the Dominion newspaper
in Wellington
, and marrying Norman Blake at Napier
in 1941, Faulkner spent much of World War II
working for the Hawera Star in Taranaki. From 1944–1948 she and her husband leased the Dawson Falls Lodge, Egmont National Park
, and there she gained an appreciation for the flora and fauna and traditional lore of the region’s National Parks.
After gaining overseas experience as a journalist
, Faulkner returned to write syndicated columns in four main-centre newspapers for ten years in the 1950s. Her "New Zealand Newsletters" found audiences in Britain
, Canada
and South Africa
from 1961 to 1985. She ran a "Behind the Headlines" commentary on current affairs on NZBC commercial network for 14 years, gave regular book reviews on the YA stations, and for 11 years was a regular panellist on Sunday Supplement.
She edited education programmes on the National parks of New Zealand
, and the legends of Lake Taupo
and Mount Taranaki/Egmont, which are still available today, and in the 1970s produced a documentary series for Radio New Zealand
that looked at the legend of the mountains and traditions surrounding them. She gave many workshops and courses on writing and journalism, and inspired the creation of writers' groups at Stratford
and New Plymouth
. In 1971 she was named "New Zealand Woman of the Year".
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
in the mid to late twentieth century.
Biography
Faulkner was born Joan Isabel Faulkner to Edward Ernest Faulkner and Rhoda Vera Faulkner (née White) in CambridgeCambridge, New Zealand
Cambridge is a town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. Situated 24 kilometres southeast of Hamilton, on the banks of the Waikato River, Cambridge is known as "The Town of Trees & Champions".In the 1840s Cambridge had a Maori population but in the 1850's missionaries and...
, Waikato
Waikato
The Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
. After training as a journalist on the Dominion newspaper
The Dominion Post (Wellington)
The Dominion Post is a metropolitan broadsheet newspaper published in Wellington, New Zealand, owned by the Australian Fairfax group, owners of The Age, Melbourne, and The Sydney Morning Herald.- Foundation :...
in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, and marrying Norman Blake at Napier
Napier, New Zealand
Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
in 1941, Faulkner spent much of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
working for the Hawera Star in Taranaki. From 1944–1948 she and her husband leased the Dawson Falls Lodge, Egmont National Park
Egmont National Park
Egmont National Park is located south of New Plymouth, close to the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the mountain which dominates its environs, which itself was named by Captain Cook after John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont, the First Lord of the Admiralty who...
, and there she gained an appreciation for the flora and fauna and traditional lore of the region’s National Parks.
After gaining overseas experience as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, Faulkner returned to write syndicated columns in four main-centre newspapers for ten years in the 1950s. Her "New Zealand Newsletters" found audiences in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
from 1961 to 1985. She ran a "Behind the Headlines" commentary on current affairs on NZBC commercial network for 14 years, gave regular book reviews on the YA stations, and for 11 years was a regular panellist on Sunday Supplement.
She edited education programmes on the National parks of New Zealand
National parks of New Zealand
The national parks of New Zealand are 14 protected areas administered by the Department of Conservation "for the benefit, use, and enjoyment of the public". These are popular tourist destinations, with three-tenths of tourists visiting at least one national park during their stay in New Zealand...
, and the legends of Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo is a lake situated in the North Island of New Zealand. With a surface area of , it is the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand, and the second largest freshwater lake by surface area in geopolitical Oceania after Lake Murray ....
and Mount Taranaki/Egmont, which are still available today, and in the 1970s produced a documentary series for Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...
that looked at the legend of the mountains and traditions surrounding them. She gave many workshops and courses on writing and journalism, and inspired the creation of writers' groups at Stratford
Stratford, New Zealand
Stratford is the only town in the central Taranaki district of Stratford District, New Zealand. It lies beneath the eastern slopes of Mount Taranaki/Egmont, approximately half-way between New Plymouth and Hawera, near the geographic centre of the Taranaki region. The town has a population of...
and New Plymouth
New Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
. In 1971 she was named "New Zealand Woman of the Year".