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Story: Building stone

Quarrying Tākaka marble

Image
Quarrying Tākaka marble

These workers at the Tākaka Hill marble quarry are using traditional tools – chisels, sledge hammers and crowbars. Chisels were hammered into cracks to widen them until a block was worked loose. The work was slow and difficult, and is now largely performed by hydraulic machinery.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Leslie Hinge Collection (PAColl-3050)

Reference: 1/1-021976; G

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

Simon Nathan and Bruce Hayward, Building stone – Limestone and marble, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/8082/quarrying-takaka-marble (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Simon Nathan and Bruce Hayward, published 2 March 2009.