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Story: Manufacturing – an overview

War work

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War work

During the Second World War many manufacturers were involved in war work. Once they were declared an essential industry, manufacturers were able to keep or get staff, and knew they had a market for the goods produced. Here staff at Standard Motor Bodies stretch sheet metal used to make the body work for trucks for the army.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, War History Collection (PAColl-4161)

Reference: PAColl-0783-2-0431

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

Ian Hunter, Manufacturing – an overview – Early 20th century manufacturing, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/25135/war-work (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Ian Hunter, published 14 April 2010.