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Story: Farming in the economy

Clearing bush

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Clearing bush

Farming was slow to develop in much of the North Island because bush needed to be cleared. This was time-consuming and only small areas could be cleared at any one time. These men are sowing grass seed on newly burned ground in 1913.

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Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: 1/2-038775; F

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

Robert Peden, Farming in the economy – Early farming and the great pastoral era, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/17607/clearing-bush (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Robert Peden, published 1 March 2009.