Our history

The New Zealand Speech-language Therapists’ Association’s celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2021.

In 1946, Peter Fraser was our prime minister; our population reached a little under two million; Sam Hunt and Bill Manhire, two of New Zealand’s best-known poets, were born, and Dr Benjamin Spock’s Baby and Child Care book was influencing millions of new and expectant parents throughout the world.

That same year, on 28 August, the first annual general meeting of the New Zealand Speech Therapy Association was held in Christchurch.

NZSTA time capsule

In celebration of our 75th birthday, the NZSTA Board has put together a time capsule to preserve a slice of today for tomorrow’s members. The items that have been included are:

•         2021 list of NZSTA members
•         Photos to commemorate NZSTA activities in 2021
•         2021 publications of Communication Matters
•         2021 Speech-language Therapy awareness week poster
•         2021 publications of Speech, Language and Hearing, NZSTA’s official
          journal
•         2021 conference programme: Aoraki Iho Ake: Grounded-Aspiring-
          Connected
•         2021 NZSTA board minutes
•         2021 NZSTA annual report and audited financial statement
•         NZSTA badge

The intention is for the time capsule to be opened at our centenary in 2046. The time capsule is stored with the secretariat.