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Rock pigeons were introduced to New Zealand as racing or messenger pigeons. The most interesting use of their talents came in 1897, with the establishment of a pigeon-post service from Great Barrier Island to Auckland. This is the original dovecote in Newton, Auckland. The service lasted until 1908.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Reference: 1/2-027977-F
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.