Story: Wellington places

Consumers’ Co-op

Consumers’ Co-op

When Lower Hutt’s state housing suburbs were being built, the government agreed that retailing in the area should be controlled by a consumers’ cooperative. Under this arrangement every household would hold shares in the co-op. Profits from trading would be returned to shareholders through annual dividends.

The Hutt Valley Consumers’ Co-operative was established in 1945. This is its Naenae store in Seddon Street on opening day in July 1946. It was initially a great success, partly because of the public’s desire to forge a better world after six years of war. But by the 1950s there was a more individualistic spirit, and the government allowed private retailers to compete with the co-op. It was unable to adapt, and closed in the early 1960s.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Evening Post Collection (PAColl-0614)
Reference: PAColl-6301-84

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Chris Maclean, 'Wellington places - Hutt Valley – central and west', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/13473/consumers-co-op (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Chris Maclean, updated 1 Mar 2016