Story: Families: a history

Pākehā family in suburbs, 1950s

Pākehā family in suburbs, 1950s

The post-war ideal for city families was to own a home in the suburbs and provide children with space to play. Middle class parents, especially mothers, were expected to encourage children's intellectual and psychological development, and their play. These children enjoy a ball game with their sister in the back garden of a Christchurch suburb in the 1950s.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Photograph by Neville Phillips

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How to cite this page:

Ian Pool and Rosemary Du Plessis, 'Families: a history - Baby boom begins: 1945–1959', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/30209/pakeha-family-in-suburbs-1950s (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Ian Pool and Rosemary Du Plessis, published 5 May 2011, updated 1 Jul 2017