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Fabulous Vintage Photos of New Zealand in the 1970s Offer a Glimpse into Everyday Life

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In the early 1970s, the population of New Zealand reached three million. The economy was steadily growing but the inflation and unemployment rates were very high, thousands of people emigrated to Australia. The global oil crisis of 1973 and Britain’s entry into the European Economic community affected the exports of the country. The government borrowed funds from overseas and ran up huge budgetary deficits.

In the early 1970s, there was a single state-run television channel, the second channel began broadcasting in 1975. Color televisions arrived in New Zealand in 1973, but they were not affordable for every household. Music videos were coming into vogue but talent shows remained popular. The women’s movement grew in strength through the decade, influencing significant legislative and social changes.

Take a look at these stunning vintage photos that offer a glimpse into the everyday life of New Zealand in the 1970s.

#1 Auckland School for Dental Nurses, Mt Eden, Auckland, October 1970

Auckland School for Dental Nurses, Mt Eden, Auckland, October 1970

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#2 Swanson Street, looking east towards Shortland Street, September 1974

Swanson Street, looking east towards Shortland Street, September 1974

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#5 Women with their a rental car stop on Omapere Hill for a photograph of Hokianga Harbour, Northland, August 1970

Women with their a rental car stop on Omapere Hill for a photograph of Hokianga Harbour, Northland, August 1970

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#7 Nurses relaxing beside the river Avon, Hagley Park, Christchurch, September 1970

Nurses relaxing beside the river Avon, Hagley Park, Christchurch, September 1970

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#9 School library service, Waterview Primary School, Auckland, March, 1970

School library service, Waterview Primary School, Auckland, March, 1970

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#11 Lower Albert Street with Arcadia at Princes Wharf, Auckland, October 1971

Lower Albert Street with Arcadia at Princes Wharf, Auckland, October 1971

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#12 Summer beach scene at Kelvin Grove, Frankton Arm, Lake Wakatipu, Otago, January 1971

Summer beach scene at Kelvin Grove, Frankton Arm, Lake Wakatipu, Otago, January 1971

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#13 Government Bookshop, State Advances Building, Rutland Street, Auckland, February 1972

Government Bookshop, State Advances Building, Rutland Street, Auckland, February 1972

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#14 Punakaiki, Nelson Province. Looking North. Girls on the Stratified rock formation high above the sea, February 1972

Punakaiki, Nelson Province. Looking North. Girls on the Stratified rock formation high above the sea, February 1972

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#15 Telephone exchange building in Timaru, Canterbury Province, October 1972

Telephone exchange building in Timaru, Canterbury Province, October 1972

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#16 Passengers from the commuter trains leave Wellington station in the early morning, February 1973

Passengers from the commuter trains leave Wellington station in the early morning, February 1973

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#18 View from Custom Street West towards Central Police station. St. Patrick’s in centre foreground, Auckland, December 1975

View from Custom Street West towards Central Police station. St. Patrick's in centre foreground, Auckland, December 1975

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#19 Mother and child among the daffodils on the banks of the Avon River, Hagley Park, Christchurch, September 1971

Mother and child among the daffodils on the banks of the Avon River, Hagley Park, Christchurch, September 1971

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#21 A shop in the Strand Arcade, Auckland, December 1970

A shop in the Strand Arcade, Auckland, December 1970

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#26 The swimming pool at the International Hotel, Rotorua, 1971

The swimming pool at the International Hotel, Rotorua, 1971

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#28 Motor Camp, Coopers Beach, Northland, January 1972

Motor Camp, Coopers Beach, Northland, January 1972

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#30 The Can Can girls at the Bar inside the Gold Nugget Hotel on Gala Day, Shanty Town, Westland, January 1973

The Can Can girls at the Bar inside the Gold Nugget Hotel on Gala Day, Shanty Town, Westland, January 1973

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#32 Upper Queen Street bus stop, Auckland, August 1974

Upper Queen Street bus stop, Auckland, August 1974

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#33 Auckland Harbour Bridge with yachts in harbour, January 1975

Auckland Harbour Bridge with yachts in harbour, January 1975

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#34 High Street, Dannevirke. Hawkes Bay Province, April 1975

High Street, Dannevirke. Hawkes Bay Province, April 1975

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#35 Karangahape Road, one of Auckland’s busiest shopping areas, January 1975

Karangahape Road, one of Auckland's busiest shopping areas, January 1975

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#36 Main shopping area, Paraparaumu Beach, Wellington Province, January 1975

Main shopping area, Paraparaumu Beach, Wellington Province, January 1975

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#38 Morning traffic on northern motorway, Auckland, December 1975

Morning traffic on northern motorway, Auckland, December 1975

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#39 New housing area, Forrest Hill, North Shore, Auckland, November 1975

New housing area, Forrest Hill, North Shore, Auckland, November 1975

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#40 Downtown Development at Queen Street and Quay Street junction, and Air New Zealand House, Auckland, June 1975

Downtown Development at Queen Street and Quay Street junction, and Air New Zealand House, Auckland, June 1975

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#41 Car Ferry ‘Opua’, Opua-Russell, Bay of Islands, Northland, January 1970

Car Ferry 'Opua', Opua-Russell, Bay of Islands, Northland, January 1970

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#42 Churton Park Subdivision, Wellington, December 1970

Churton Park Subdivision, Wellington, December 1970

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#45 Vauxhall Car sale at Ormond’s Motors Ltd, Gisborne, March 1971

Vauxhall Car sale at Ormond's Motors Ltd, Gisborne, March 1971

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#46 Afternoon teatime. Mount Ngauruhoe in the background. Tongariro National Park, September 1972

Afternoon teatime. Mount Ngauruhoe in the background. Tongariro National Park, September 1972

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#47 Glendover Road, Fendalton, Christchurch, November 1972

Glendover Road, Fendalton, Christchurch, November 1972

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#48 Hamilton, Victoria Street. Hamilton’s ‘Golden Mile’ shopping street, September 1972

Hamilton, Victoria Street. Hamilton's 'Golden Mile' shopping street, September 1972

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#49 Main street in Ashburton in the spring, Canterbury Province, October 1972

Main street in Ashburton in the spring, Canterbury Province, October 1972

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#50 North Island New Zealand Blue Streak Rail Car travelling north between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki main trunk line to Auckland, July 1972

North Island New Zealand Blue Streak Rail Car travelling north between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki main trunk line to Auckland, July 1972

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#51 Cameron Road, one of Tauranga’s shopping streets, January 1973

Cameron Road, one of Tauranga's shopping streets, January 1973

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#52 Devonport Road one of Tauranga’s busy Shopping Streets, January 1973

Devonport Road one of Tauranga's busy Shopping Streets, January 1973

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#53 Westland National Park Visitor Centre, August 1973

Westland National Park Visitor Centre, August 1973

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#54 Queen Street shoppers, school holidays, Auckland City, August 1974

Queen Street shoppers, school holidays, Auckland City, August 1974

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#55 Barbeque on Westshore Beach, Napier, Hawke’s Bay, February 1975

Barbeque on Westshore Beach, Napier, Hawke's Bay, February 1975

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#56 Feeding the elephant at Wellington Zoo, January 1975

Feeding the elephant at Wellington Zoo, January 1975

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#57 Former Post Office Building now Labour Department, corner Fenton and Arawa Streets, Rotorua, January 1975

Former Post Office Building now Labour Department, corner Fenton and Arawa Streets, Rotorua, January 1975

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#58 Shops across from Rotorua International Hotel at Whakarewarewa, Rotorua, January 1975

Shops across from Rotorua International Hotel at Whakarewarewa, Rotorua, January 1975

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#59 Plimmerton with an electric unit travelling along the main trunk line, January 1975

Plimmerton with an electric unit travelling along the main trunk line, January 1975

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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