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Story: Class

Orchard worker, Motueka 1964

Video file

In this interview a worker in the hop and fruit orchards of the Nelson region expresses her satisfaction with her material situation. Although there was considerable difference in both wealth and social prestige between workers in different jobs, and between those in the city and those in small towns like Motueka, there was little extreme social resentment in New Zealand during the 1950s and early 1960s. Most people had a job and what they felt was a reasonable standard of living.

Using this item

Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: These New Zealanders no. 5 Motueka. National Film Unit, 1964

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

Jock Phillips, Class – A middle-class society? – class consciousness, 1890 to 1970, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/29736/orchard-worker-motueka-1964 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 15 April 2011.