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Story: Insurance

Government Life office staff, around 1900

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Government Life office staff, around 1900

Before the days of computers or typewriters a calm and dignified atmosphere prevailed in insurance offices like the ‘Long Room’, shown here around 1900. The room was part of the original Government Life Insurance head office building in Wellington, demolished in 1931.

Using this item

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Reference: C. W. Vennell, Tower of Strength, 1869-1969: a centennial history of the NZ government life insurance office, Auckland: Wilson and Horton, 1969, p. 74.

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How to cite this page

Alan Henderson, Insurance – Transforming the insurance industry, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/24142/government-life-office-staff-around-1900 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Alan Henderson, published 4 March 2010.

Comments

My Insurance Guide
16 October 2010
What a stunning building. What happened to decoration an interior like this? It's all plastic these days.