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Story: Urban Māori

War industry workers

Image
War industry workers

During the Second World War, young Māori not eligible for military service were ‘manpowered’ into industries supporting the war effort. As a result many were required to move to urban areas. The young women pictured are taking a meal break during their shift at a munitions factory in Hamilton.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, John Dobrée Pascoe Collection (PAColl-0783)

Reference: 1/4-000865; F

by John Dobrée Pascoe

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

Paul Meredith, Urban Māori – Urbanisation, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/3567/war-industry-workers (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Paul Meredith, published 4 March 2009, updated 17 February 2015.