Obituary: Hook Bay earthquake survivor and radio pioneer Helen McConnucci

Helen McConnucci was also one of the first recipients of the Bell Toft Memorial Award, one of broadcasting’s most prestigious awards. Photo/NZME

Obituary: Helen McConnucci, 1925 – 2022

Helen McConnucci of Napier was a pioneer of women’s broadcasting in New Zealand.

She passed away peacefully at her home in Napier on March 14, 2022 at the age of 96.

She began working on radio in New Zealand in the late 1950s and has continued for 41 years in the medium, including her regular program promoting and advocating for people with disabilities.

McConnouchi was also an early recipient of the Bill Toft Memorial Award, one of broadcasting’s most prestigious awards.

It all began with a passion for talk and drama, encouraged by her father Sam, a native of Glasgow, who sparked her interest in reading and reciting the classics, and her mother, May.

Mai was a piano teacher from Taranaki, who encouraged Helen to travel to further her talent in the performing arts.

But Helen’s education did not start off well. She was strapped on her first day at Nelson Park School and on her second day the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake.

Her father rode his bike around the cracks and crevices of the road and found her hiding under a truck.

After the earthquake, she and her mother left for Woodville for some time.

On her return to Napier, Helen attended Te Awa Primary School, where she was not particularly interested in school work but had fun and was successful in sports, languages, performance and poetry.

Helen also compiled a book – After Words – during her retirement, in which Hawke’s Bay earthquake survivors recall their experiences. Photo/NZME

At Napier Intermediate she won awards for athletics and drama.

At the age of 12, she began taking speech lessons and chose drama over athletics. Her strong interest in speech and drama continued at Napier Girls’ High School and she was planning to continue it.

Helen’s first job after leaving school was at Hector McGregor Electric, where she worked to save money to study drama in London.

While working, she continued speaking and drama classes, participated in competitions, completed her Trinity letters (ATCL and LTCL) and performed in local plays and plays.

In the early 1950s, Helen traveled to England via Pitcairn Island and Panama to continue her studies.

Her novels at this time reveal her enthusiasm and enthusiasm for social and cultural life in London despite the aftermath of the Second World War, which emerged with the legalization and bombing of buildings.

When she missed a place with the London Academy of Music (Drama department), she was awarded a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she was told ‘Thank you for not speaking with a New Zealand accent’.

She did a range of jobs in and around London to fund her studies including working in a furniture store and as a farm worker.

When she returned to New Zealand, Helen taught speech and English at a number of schools including Iona College, gave private speech lessons and directed amateur plays.

Then there was a chance to interfere with the broadcast.

She first worked as a women’s watch at 2ZC in Napier before completing her training in Wellington.

She followed permanence on radio stations in Nelson and Wanganui, and was frequently called upon to give fashion shows and other community events.

By the mid-1960s, Helen had itchy feet and returned to the United Kingdom, where she worked for the National Bureau of Economics and Development.

While there, she was asked to be a guest speaker at the annual Women of Scotland Luncheon.

When she returned to New Zealand, Helen was assigned to the Women’s Watch program in Rotorua.

She encouraged herself in learning Esperanto, which at the time aimed to be a global second language for international communication.

In Rotorua, Helen met a young writer named Fiona Kidman, who encouraged Helen to return to stage production.

Upon learning of Helen’s death, Mrs. Fiona Kidman described Helen as “a good friend and teacher”.

Upon learning of Helen’s death, Mrs. Fiona described Helen as “a good friend and mentor”.

The rest of Helen’s working life was in Wellington. She worked on special projects at Broadcasting House on a range of programs including Bookshelf and Feminine Viewpoint, which later became Viewpoint.

She took over management of Saturday’s show, Saturday Miscellany, and expanded it to include material from outside broadcasters.

Talk spread about her program, and she was invited to the United States to attend the “American Women in Radio and Television” conference where she was asked to be the organization’s first international member.

This was followed by an invitation to attend the World Conference on Women in Radio and Television in communist Bulgaria.

In 1979, Helen created the radio program Future Indicative which began her long immersion in the disability sector, as she was seconded to committees and participated in the International Year of Persons with Disabilities in 1981.

In 1986 she was awarded the Bell Toft Award, presented to radio and television broadcasters who demonstrate their leadership in broadcasting excellence.

Helen retired in 1991 and returned to Napier to live. She continued her disability advocacy roles and pursued a range of interests in art, Napier Museum Commission, New Zealand Writers Council, and Third Age University (U3A).

Helen also compiled a book – After Words – during her retirement, in which Hawke’s Bay earthquake survivors recall their experiences.

Helen is fondly remembered by her family and friends as a stubborn, patient, courteous, caring and curious person who kept her brain active until her death last month, reading a wide variety of books and always completing listening crossword puzzles.

Obituaries by Helen’s nieces Allison Robertson and Janet Wright

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