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Story: Shops

Shop hours poster

This 1850 poster, signed by Wellington shopkeepers, agreed to close shops at 7 p.m. during winter, except on Saturdays, so staff could get home at a decent hour. Shop assistants often complained about the long hours they worked.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: Eph-B-RETAIL-1850-01

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

Carl Walrond, Shops – Unions, pay and working hours, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/21222/shop-hours-poster (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Carl Walrond, published 6 April 2010, updated 19 February 2026.