Story: Public service

Department heads: Edward Tregear, secretary of labour (1st of 2)

Department heads: Edward Tregear, secretary of labour

British-born Edward Tregear had fought in the New Zealand wars and worked as a surveyor before becoming the first head of the Bureau of Industries, later renamed the Department of Labour. He is shown here in about 1896, when he turned 50. Tregear remained head of the department until his retirement in 1912. He was also a well-known ethnologist and scholar of Māori language and traditions.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: 1/2-030365-F

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:

Richard Shaw, 'Public service - What is the public service?', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/33011/department-heads-edward-tregear-secretary-of-labour (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Richard Shaw, published 20 Jun 2012, reviewed & revised 8 Mar 2021