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Story: Rural mythologies

Godfrey Bowen with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip

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Godfrey Bowen with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip

The visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip to New Zealand in 1953–54 was an opportunity for New Zealanders to show off their country and society to the world. The royal visitors were not taken to museums or art galleries, but were shown New Zealand’s agricultural traditions. Here, champion shearer Godfrey Bowen explains the process of shearing to the royal couple at the Napier welcome. It was the second time the Queen had seen Bowen shear – she had also seen him at Hamilton’s Claudelands showgrounds a week before.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: AAQT6538/1

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, Rural mythologies – Rural myth lives on, 1945–1975, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/20324/godfrey-bowen-with-queen-elizabeth-and-prince-philip (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 1 March 2009.