Kōrero: Kauri gum and gum digging

After it arrived at the Auckland wharves, kauri gum was taken to the merchants’ warehouse by horse-drawn carts. Between them, Auckland gum merchants employed several hundred people. Gum quality varied greatly, and it had to be sorted and graded on size, hardness, colour and purity. Sizes were in descending order from nuggets (sizes B1 and B2), nubs and peas, down to chips and dust.