Ministry Of Transport Taranaki
Doreen Paton (Doreen Loader) 1964-69
Office was located on corner of Egmont & Gill Sts and was known as the "Transport Dept". Had a lot of fun here. Jack Semple was the Chief, John Mahoney 2 IC. Remember Desna Sisarich, Julie Edser (now Parker), Dick Waters, Bob Wolfe, Richard Hunt, Glenys Pelham, Tessa, Jenny now Cleaver, Val Little etc.
Left in September 1969 and had daughter no.1 in December. Went back to work here as a casual for a few years after, mainly for the mad June rush of driver license renewals.
Desna Sisarich 1965-70
I worked as the Court Reporter and travelled all around the No 6 Transport Licensing District - the hot and cold places - Ohakune, Raetihi, Taumaramuni, Turangi, Wanganui, Hawera, Stratford, etc. Very interesting time - gave me OOS in both shoulders!! Geoff Emmerson was boss. Remember with much fondness Jennifer MacDonald, Doreen Paton, Julie Edsar, Diane Old, Carol Oakes?... Merv Reece?..woops memory gone... all that 200 words per minute shorthand - did my head, and shoulders in and my middle figer on left hand!! They replaced me with a tape recorder!! And all those traffic tickets - piles of 'em. Guess they don't have carbon paper anywhere anymore? Office was in Egmont Street when I started, in a very old building. We shifted later up to the corner of Elliott and Devon Streets into much more upmarket accommodation. Dear departed George Scholes built me a beautiful guitar - I still have it. Never want to be driven down the Paraparas again in an old transport vehicle - PVA Vauxhall...or is that glue? My head was certainly stuck out the window on those trips! Diabolical!! But I survived.
Selwyn Law 1965-72
Traffic Officer stationed at New Plymouth and Opunake
Valerie Armstrong (Valerie Little) 1966-78
Started at office in Egmont St. Jack Semple was Chief Traffic Officer, John Mahoney Senior Traffic Officer.
Maurice Loveridge 1966-92
Boss Jack Semple 2ic John Hilton Mahoney,Office in Ariki Street.When i started it was called the Transport Department.Rode 650cc norton
Noel Downs 1967-92
Joined the Transport Department as a Vehicle Inspector and based in Stratford until Nov 1977. Transfered to Hawera as Senior Vehicle Inspector in charge of the Hawera Testing Station until 1987. Transfered to Rotorua as Senior Vehicle Inspector for Rotorua / Taupo Districts then in 1992 the vehicle inspection side was made an S.O.E. called Vehicle Testing New Zealand Ltd and I was promoted to District Manager of Eastern Bay of Plenty, Rotorua/TAupo, Tokoroa/Putaruru. Retired from V.T.N.Z. Dec 1999.
Derek Norman 1969-78
Still living in Auckland, Retired from the Ministry 16 years ago. Still working for Barrister in Auckland.
Pam Baker (Pam Bennett) 1971-74
Graeme Barsanti 1973-79
Stationed at Opunake and worked the area from Okato- Mania Great memories
Murray D Maindonald 1975-92
Appointed to New Plymouth From training College.
Started riding 550 Honda m/cycle, 650cc Suzuki, 750cc Yamaha,Then got a car position, A Nissan B/Bird B&W car as city car Officer.
Yeap, in our day son....
Douglas Burden 1977-97
Started with the MOT in Wellinton in 1973, transferred to Porirua in 1975 then up to Opunake in 1977, served 20 years in Opunake then transferred to Palmerston North to the Central District Highway Patrol where I continue working. Taranaki MOT & Police was an experience that I am very pleased to have been associated with, made many great friends. Still call Opunake home. Have a Opunake girl (Val Kahui) as my partner who I greatfull for.
Michael Bell 1978-89
George Williams (Big George) 1980-83
Arrived from Wellington Motorway in 1979 December to take up Senior position.
Tony Young 1980-92
From the sunny East Coast to Eltham until the Police merger in 1992
Donna Farkas (Donna Tamati) 1981-84
This was my first real job and I loved working there. I had some lovely friends. Worked in Revenue and Expenditure Accounts. Receptionist and Cashier. Loved working in the Warrant of Fitness Work Shop. I also loved working with the coppers as Radio Telephone Operator. Telex machines and manual typewriters were in. Accounts were all done by hand. We had a lovely tea lady called Pam who came around with a trolley of tea, coffee and buns.
Carol Lay (Carol Coxhead) 1981-89
Susan Rocha (Susan Bellamy) 1981-93
Worked as a typist during the time when the MOT existed in its full glory.
Jan Graham 1984-85
I started my career in the Mot as a Road Traffic Instructor, my boss was a lovely man by the name of Bill Robertson, I gained good grounding in my new career there, giving Bill a few grey hairs on the way.My first car chase was on Christmas eve, I chased a drunk driver through New Plymouth, I was shaking like a leaf afterwards. I was referred to as a Piglet by some of the cheeky local lads . My time (although rather short )spent in Taranaki was great. I then took up Sole charge on the west Coast of the South Island.
Mike Brotherson 1987-90
Janet Green (Janet Greenway) 1988-89
Did a 1 year stint on contract with Support Services, issuing the new "Lifetime Drivers Licences"
Mark Stables 1988-92
In New Plymouth, Taranaki
Office was located on corner of Egmont & Gill Sts and was known as the "Transport Dept". Had a lot of fun here. Jack Semple was the Chief, John Mahoney 2 IC. Remember Desna Sisarich, Julie Edser (now Parker), Dick Waters, Bob Wolfe, Richard Hunt, Glenys Pelham, Tessa, Jenny now Cleaver, Val Little etc.
Left in September 1969 and had daughter no.1 in December. Went back to work here as a casual for a few years after, mainly for the mad June rush of driver license renewals.
Desna Sisarich 1965-70
I worked as the Court Reporter and travelled all around the No 6 Transport Licensing District - the hot and cold places - Ohakune, Raetihi, Taumaramuni, Turangi, Wanganui, Hawera, Stratford, etc. Very interesting time - gave me OOS in both shoulders!! Geoff Emmerson was boss. Remember with much fondness Jennifer MacDonald, Doreen Paton, Julie Edsar, Diane Old, Carol Oakes?... Merv Reece?..woops memory gone... all that 200 words per minute shorthand - did my head, and shoulders in and my middle figer on left hand!! They replaced me with a tape recorder!! And all those traffic tickets - piles of 'em. Guess they don't have carbon paper anywhere anymore? Office was in Egmont Street when I started, in a very old building. We shifted later up to the corner of Elliott and Devon Streets into much more upmarket accommodation. Dear departed George Scholes built me a beautiful guitar - I still have it. Never want to be driven down the Paraparas again in an old transport vehicle - PVA Vauxhall...or is that glue? My head was certainly stuck out the window on those trips! Diabolical!! But I survived.
Selwyn Law 1965-72
Traffic Officer stationed at New Plymouth and Opunake
Valerie Armstrong (Valerie Little) 1966-78
Started at office in Egmont St. Jack Semple was Chief Traffic Officer, John Mahoney Senior Traffic Officer.
Maurice Loveridge 1966-92
Boss Jack Semple 2ic John Hilton Mahoney,Office in Ariki Street.When i started it was called the Transport Department.Rode 650cc norton
Noel Downs 1967-92
Joined the Transport Department as a Vehicle Inspector and based in Stratford until Nov 1977. Transfered to Hawera as Senior Vehicle Inspector in charge of the Hawera Testing Station until 1987. Transfered to Rotorua as Senior Vehicle Inspector for Rotorua / Taupo Districts then in 1992 the vehicle inspection side was made an S.O.E. called Vehicle Testing New Zealand Ltd and I was promoted to District Manager of Eastern Bay of Plenty, Rotorua/TAupo, Tokoroa/Putaruru. Retired from V.T.N.Z. Dec 1999.
Derek Norman 1969-78
Still living in Auckland, Retired from the Ministry 16 years ago. Still working for Barrister in Auckland.
Pam Baker (Pam Bennett) 1971-74
Graeme Barsanti 1973-79
Stationed at Opunake and worked the area from Okato- Mania Great memories
Murray D Maindonald 1975-92
Appointed to New Plymouth From training College.
Started riding 550 Honda m/cycle, 650cc Suzuki, 750cc Yamaha,Then got a car position, A Nissan B/Bird B&W car as city car Officer.
Yeap, in our day son....
Douglas Burden 1977-97
Started with the MOT in Wellinton in 1973, transferred to Porirua in 1975 then up to Opunake in 1977, served 20 years in Opunake then transferred to Palmerston North to the Central District Highway Patrol where I continue working. Taranaki MOT & Police was an experience that I am very pleased to have been associated with, made many great friends. Still call Opunake home. Have a Opunake girl (Val Kahui) as my partner who I greatfull for.
Michael Bell 1978-89
George Williams (Big George) 1980-83
Arrived from Wellington Motorway in 1979 December to take up Senior position.
Tony Young 1980-92
From the sunny East Coast to Eltham until the Police merger in 1992
Donna Farkas (Donna Tamati) 1981-84
This was my first real job and I loved working there. I had some lovely friends. Worked in Revenue and Expenditure Accounts. Receptionist and Cashier. Loved working in the Warrant of Fitness Work Shop. I also loved working with the coppers as Radio Telephone Operator. Telex machines and manual typewriters were in. Accounts were all done by hand. We had a lovely tea lady called Pam who came around with a trolley of tea, coffee and buns.
Carol Lay (Carol Coxhead) 1981-89
Susan Rocha (Susan Bellamy) 1981-93
Worked as a typist during the time when the MOT existed in its full glory.
Jan Graham 1984-85
I started my career in the Mot as a Road Traffic Instructor, my boss was a lovely man by the name of Bill Robertson, I gained good grounding in my new career there, giving Bill a few grey hairs on the way.My first car chase was on Christmas eve, I chased a drunk driver through New Plymouth, I was shaking like a leaf afterwards. I was referred to as a Piglet by some of the cheeky local lads . My time (although rather short )spent in Taranaki was great. I then took up Sole charge on the west Coast of the South Island.
Mike Brotherson 1987-90
Janet Green (Janet Greenway) 1988-89
Did a 1 year stint on contract with Support Services, issuing the new "Lifetime Drivers Licences"
Mark Stables 1988-92
In New Plymouth, Taranaki