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Story: Building materials

Terrazzo

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Terrazzo

Terrazzo is a traditional Italian material. It was introduced to New Zealand in 1927 by a British company using Italian labour and marble. Terrazzo is a type of concrete containing high quality stones, which is ground and polished to produce high-gloss floors and benches. It was often used in kitchens and enjoyed a revival in the early 2000s.

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Terrazzo & Stoneworks NZ

by Andrew Giacon

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How to cite this page

Jeremy Salmond, Building materials – Cement and concrete, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/25117/terrazzo (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jeremy Salmond, published 4 March 2010.