Rare Historical Photos Of New Zealand From The 20th Century

The first human settlement in New Zealand dates back to 700 years when Polynesians discovered the area. By the 19th century, New Zealand was regularly visited by explorers and other sailors, missionaries, traders, and adventurers. New Zealand was the first country in the world to grant all women the right to vote and offer state housing and pensions to workers. On 26 September 1907, the British Empire gave self-governing dominion status to New Zealand; however, the country remained an enthusiastic member of the empire. New Zealanders also helped the British Empire during both World Wars by sending thousands of troops to fight.

After World War One, the country’s economy crumbled, unemployment rose, and framers were significantly affected by the Great depression. The economy of the country was mostly dependent on agriculture and farming. Meat freezing works, woolen mills, and dairy factories were caught in the spiral of decline. The New Zealand Pound was devalued by 14 percent against sterling in January 1933. The economic recovery began at the end of the 20th century, which shaped the future of the country.

Here below are some historical photos that show New Zealand in the early 20th century — capturing streets, landmarks, and everyday life. Also check, New Zealand in the late 19th century.

#1 Bond Street, formerly known as Old Customhouse Street, Wellington, New Zealand, circa 1957

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#2 Young women (music hall dancers) in costume, standing barefoot in dance pose, wearing headbands, Nelson District, New Zealand, 1920

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#3 The Rotorua Express leaving Auckland, alongside Customs Street East, New Zealand in 1909

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#4 Boxing match in progress on the deck of New Zealand troopship Dominion Monarch, 1940

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#5 Men doing chores at a campsite, all in striped tops, poss­ibly Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand circa 1905

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#6 Young men doing chores, next to tent at a camp site, probably Christchurch district, New Zealand circa 1905

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#7 One of more than 2,000 train-related glass negatives, now in the collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library, taken by New Zealand Railways, 1949

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#8 Class A locomotive, NZR No. 419, at the Petone Railway Workshops, New Zealand circa 1909

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#9 Boys of Wanganui Technical College during an engineering class, New Zealand, 1916

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#10 Hunter with quail, New Zealand, 1920

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#11 Two women with four small children in a pushchair on a city street, Wellington, New Zealand, Aug. 21, 1959

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#12 Unidentified family group outdoors, probably Christchurch district, New Zealand circa 1902

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#13 Wanganui Herald newspaper staff and bicycles, New Zealand, 1907

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#14 A man with hgousehold appliances including washing & sewing machine, mixer, toaster, polisher and heater, Wellington, New Zealand, circa 1950

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#15 Anthony and Paul Banks with a Hoover washing machine, Wellington, New Zealand, 1956

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#16 Model with wringer washing machine, New Zealand circa 1950s

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#17 Display cases in the Economic drapery store, Wanganui, New Zealand, 1915

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#18 Young men on motorcycles, probably Wanganui region, New Zealand circa 1920

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#19 Wanganui Fire Brigade’s Merryweather fire engine on blocks, probably in Chavannes Garage, New Zealand circa 1921

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#20 Car wreck after an accident, Wellington, New Zealand, circa 1928

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#21 Employees of Thomas Mitchell Ltd, Whanganui, New Zealand, 1914

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#22 Interior of Sunshine Milk Bar lined with booths, Whanganui, New Zealand, 1950

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#23 The Accident Lady is back. Have a nice trip! Wellington, New Zealand, 1951

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#24 A sentiment open to a number of interpretations, Wellington, New Zealand, 1951

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#25 Vacuum Cleaning Company machine at DIC store, Christchurch, New Zealand, circa 1910

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#26 Post and Telegraph Department football team with men in rugby football kit, Wellington, New Zealand, 1890

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#27 Woman using a vacuum cleaner in a hallway, Wellington, New Zealand

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#28 Young men in formal wear at table ready to have a meal, next to tent ‘Lily’ at camp site, probably in Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1910

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#29 Cadillac 353 V8 service car operated by Rotorua Motors, Wellington, New Zealand, 1938

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#30 Unidentified men sitting between two open tents with beds, tables, pictures, flags and posters on the walls, New Zealand, 1910

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#31 Milk Bar at the Opera House, Manners Street, Wellington, New Zealand circa 1935

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#32 Group men outside a tent with a sign reading ‘The Gaiety Camp,’ showing each man performing domestic duties, Christchurch district, New Zealand circa 1910

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#33 Young woman in Christmas tree fancy dress and hat costume, with little presents and decorations hanging off her, Christchurch, New Zealand circa 1910

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#34 Unidentified group having a picnic outside tent in backyard of house, Christchurch district, New Zealand circa 1905

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#35 U-Rect-It fittings in Hill Bros, grocery store, New Zealand circa 1958

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#36 Elson chemist and Dutton bookshop on Courtenay Place, Wellington, between 1896 and 1897

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#37 Men’s underwear being modeled, Wellington, New Zealand circa 1958

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#38 Carte de visite portrait, Maori woman and child from Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, 1890s

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#39 Greengrocery, Chinese shopkeeper with baskets of apples and boxes of peaches, cape gooseberries and other fruits, Taranaki region, New Zealand, 1920s

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#40 Four unidentified men in front of a tent, showing a washing basin, pots and teapot with cups of tea, camping ground unidentified, possibly Christchurch district, 1915

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#41 Grocery shop interior, with staff, New Zealand, 1890s

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#42 Bicycle road racing team with four young men in riding attire with two small cups, Christchurch, New Zealand circa 1910

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#43 Pondering the age-old question, “Boxers or boxer, New Zealand, 1920s

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#44 Men in front of ‘Violet Camp’ tent, Christchurch, New Zealand circa 1905

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#45 Maori boy performing a haka on the beach, Northland, New Zealand, 1913

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#46 David Taylor’s butcher shop, Wadestown, showing decorated carcasses and horse-drawn delivery cart, Wellington, New Zealand, 1910

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#47 Christ’s College 1st XV rugby team, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1911

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#48 Maori woman with a catch of fish on the Northland coast, 1910

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#49 Eight young men in ragtag clothing with hats, pots, broom, shovel, accordion, pipes, gun and dog, Christchurch, New Zealand circa 1905

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#50 Group of unidentified young women outdoors, Christchurch district, New Zealand circa 1905

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#51 Swimmers listening to radio and relaxing at Oriental Bay Beach, Wellington, New Zealand, 1958

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#52 Edgar Richard Williams, in a play pen tub with toy rabbit alongside, at Viewbank, Maitland Street, Dunedin, New Zealand, 1890s

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#53 Rabbit-hunting party of six men, with bicycles, guns and dogs, including rabbits strung between two tents, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1910

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#54 Unidentified group outside a tent, possibly at Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand circa 1910

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#55 Studio of Gordon Burt, Wellington, New Zealand, 1960

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#56 Marist Brothers cricket team, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1913

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#57 Young people in swimming costumes, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1920

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#58 Interior of large tent decorated with posters and picture postcards, with tallboy and mirror, trunks with flags, lamps and ‘Myrtle Camp’ sign, Christchurch, New Zealand circa 1905

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#59 Young people with camping gear, having tea and cake in front of tent with ‘Clover Camp’, near Christchurch, New Zealand, 1905

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#60 Motor cars in New Zealand Farmers Co-Op Garage, 1917

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#61 Connor washing machine with motorized wringer, Wellington, New Zealand, Circa 1950

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#62 A coastal suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, 1905

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#63 Male youths outside tent, Christchurch district, New Zealand circa 1905

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#64 Maranui Surf Life Saving Club ‘cock fighting’ at Lyall Bay, Wellington, 1914

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#65 Christchurch, New Zealand, circa 1913

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#66 Model at sink in kitchen equipped with Atlas electric stove and Zip water heater, Wellington, New Zealand circa 1930s

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#67 Swimsuit fashion show at James Smiths Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand, August 27, 1959

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#68 Dexter & Crozier, cycle importers, Victoria Street East, Auckland, New Zealand, 1902

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#69 Cycle shop interior. Christchurch, New Zealand, 1910

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#70 Worser Bay Surf Life Saving Club, team of 1962, Wellington, New Zealand

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#71 Wolseley and Cadillac motor cars in garage, Christchurch, New Zealand, circa 1908

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#72 Unidentified bathers, probably at Christchurch, New Zealand circa 1910

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