Story: English

The Ancient Order of Foresters began in England in the 18th century, and was established in New Zealand as a friendly society in 1852. This banner for the Onehunga branch, founded in 1875, was the work of the English firm George Tutill & Sons. The motto on the reverse side, ‘We help widows and orphans’, sums up the Foresters’ role. Such institutions were typical of the many voluntary organisations brought from England to New Zealand at the time.