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Kōrero: Rural workers

The swagman

Document

Swaggers were a common sight on the roads in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Read a 1908 newspaper article written by a swagger about his lifestyle (PDF, 34 KB).

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: A-182-127

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.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Carl Walrond, Rural workers – On the road, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/document/17217/the-swagman (accessed 24 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Carl Walrond, i tāngia i te 1 March 2009.