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Story: Occupational structure

Typists

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Typists

An army of office workers arose during the 20th century to administer a complex economy increasingly based on communications. These women using heavy manual typewriters are able to work in an occupation with more skills and better working conditions than were available to most women in the 19th century.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: AAVK Acc. 3493 C818

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How to cite this page

Paul Callister and Robert Didham, Occupational structure – Occupational change since 1840, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/22547/typists (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Paul Callister and Robert Didham, published 14 April 2010.