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Story: Sewage, water and waste

Wellington dusties

Video file

Watch footage of Wellington rubbish men or ‘dusties’ at work in 1971. Rubbish men had a tough job, climbing flights of stairs lugging heavy sacks. Some people looked down on them.

Using this item

Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: Dustie. National Film Unit, 1971

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Christine Dann, Sewage, water and waste – Recycling and waste minimisation, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/24459/wellington-dusties (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Christine Dann, published 12 April 2010.