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Story: Building trades

Union certificate

This 20th-century union certificate suggests that work was seen as something honourable in itself – not just to be done to earn a living. Craftsmen took great pride in their work and their trade, and many belonged to unions which represented their interests.

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Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: C-123-033

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

Carl Walrond, Building trades – Trades culture, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/24707/union-certificate (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Carl Walrond, published 26 February 2010.