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Story: Salt

A government bonus

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A government bonus

When New Zealand was a young colony, imported goods – including salt – were expensive, and the government was keen to establish local industries. The bonus advertised in this New Zealand Gazette notice in 1892 was never claimed. Early salt makers struggled with the country’s high rainfall. In their efforts to produce solar evaporated salt, they set up industries in places as diverse as Rangitoto Island, Gisborne, Māhia Peninsula, Breaker Bay in Wellington, and New Brighton in Christchurch. All these endeavours had one thing in common: failure.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Reference: New Zealand gazette, vol. 1 (1892), p. 404

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How to cite this page

Carl Walrond, Salt – Sea salt, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/document/4326/a-government-bonus (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Carl Walrond, published 2 March 2009.