Story: Workshop industries

Ernest Hayes's wire strainer

Ernest Hayes's wire strainer

A familiar sight on New Zealand farms even today, this tough and efficient wire strainer was invented in 1905 by Ernest Hayes in the tiny workshop on his Central Otago farm. His son later opened an engineering workshop in Invercargill, employing three people. In 2009 Hayes Engineering employed about 50 staff. Small workshops like Ernest Hayes's have been the starting point for many valuable and commercially successful New Zealand enterprises.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, F. W. Weidner Collection (PAColl-3067)
Reference: 1/1-022050; G
Photograph by F. W. Weidner

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, 'Workshop industries - A nation of workshops', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/26023/ernest-hayess-wire-strainer (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Ian Hunter, published 11 Mar 2010