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Story: Regional economies

Kauri mill on the Kaipara, around 1907

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Kauri mill on the Kaipara, around 1907

The kauri timber business dominated the upper North Island regional economy until depletion saw it give way to farming – increasingly so from around 1920. Large steam-driven sawmills like this supplied timber for both domestic and overseas buyers.

Using this item

The Kauri Museum, Matakohe

Reference: 1996.373.218.W2

Permission must be obtained from The Kauri Museum before this image is stored, reproduced, or altered in any form for any purpose.

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How to cite this page

Malcolm McKinnon, Regional economies – Development of regional economies, 1850 to 1920, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/25220/kauri-mill-on-the-kaipara-around-1907 (accessed 3 June 2026).

Story by Malcolm McKinnon, published 6 April 2010.