The main trouble with the songs 'collected' and published by Neil Colquhoun was the little known fact (at that time) that he wrote a lot of the tunes. While many people write tunes, or songs, they usually let you know that and Neil was inclined to let people think the tunes were "Trad". They also tended to include jazz progressions and chords - major 7ths and G6.
Classically trained, Neil was a school music specialist in the Wellington area for about 14 years and started several folk singing groups, doing songs that were pretty obscure for those days, (late 50s, early 60s) before shifting to Auckland.
Sam, I think the folk newsletters you remember from the 60s were the ones called 'Sing'. The 'Penny Post' was more specifically NZ Folklore Society and were a little later, though I no longer have my collection to check out the dates.
'Heritage' was published by Sharon Harris and didn't stop until late 1972.
'The Maorilander' was the Journal of the NZFLSoc and only 6 editions were published - all by Frank with a bit of volunteer help. They started in Spring 1970 and the last one is Winter 1972.
I think one of the reasons it folded (as did the NZFLS) was that Frank shifted his family to the Wairarapa and much of the research/papers/recordings etc. he left in Wellington with Duilia Rendall, who was always the secretary/dog'sbody and Frank's right-hand man/woman.
Frank continued researching local lore, but in Greytown and surrounding areas. He also kept publishing various booklets, stories etc. and he was also known as a storyteller, more especially after he chopped the end of one finger off (I think it was his ring finger, left hand) which upset his guitar playing.
We last saw Frank in action at a Wellington Folk Festival, around 1995/6, at the James Cabaret, where he told tall tales and led an 'ugly', inviting many people from the old days (including Mitch) to join him on the stage. It was a wonderful evening and will never be repeated.
Cheers Frank,
Robyn