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Story: Unions and employee organisations

Miners’ union banner

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Miners’ union banner

A vision of working-class harmony and ease appears on the magnificent banner of the Westport District Gold Miners’ Industrial Union of Workers, made in 1899. A sturdy pair of miners pose with the tools of their trade, and in the centre of the banner, another miner shakes hands with a Māori chief. Their slogans emphasise the union principles of solidarity and mutual support.

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Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: MA_I028925

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Erik Olssen, Unions and employee organisations – Early unions, 1840–1880, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/object/22253/miners-union-banner (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Erik Olssen, published 4 February 2010.