In the 1960s and 1970s thousands of Pacific Islanders came to New Zealand on temporary work permits. Many found jobs in factories, where they were a vital part of the workforce. This photo shows a supervisor with three Tongans working as spray painters in the Todd Motors factory in the Hutt Valley, Wellington. They were from a group of 89 brought to New Zealand for six months by the local chamber of commerce to help meet the labour shortage that was then limiting production.
Using this item
Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference:
EP/1973/0282/5A
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.
Add new comment