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Story: Childhood

Child milking a cow, 1903

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Child milking a cow, 1903

Rural children used to play an important part in the family economy. They were expected to help from a young age, and their labour was essential in making the family farm financially viable. This boy is milking a cow by hand in 1903. Children often had to get up very early to do chores before school, and were tired pupils as a result.

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Tairawhiti Museum, Te Whare Taonga O Te Tairawhiti

by William Crawford

Permission of Tairawhiti Museum, PO Box 716, Gisborne, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Kerryn Pollock, Childhood – Family, school and work responsibilities, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/26278/child-milking-a-cow-1903 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 22 March 2011.