New Zealand became a British territory in 1840, and it was divided into two provinces, which were later expanded to six. In the 1880s, New Zealand’s economy grew from one based on wool and local trade to the export of wool, cheese, butter and frozen beef and mutton to Britain. The New Zealand Parliament enacted a number of progressive initiatives, including women’s suffrage and old-age pensions. New Zealand women were the first in the world to be enfranchised, obtaining the vote in 1893.
These colorized pictures show sublime landscapes, mountains, lakes, and stately towns of New Zealand in the late 19th century. These photographs were created using the Photochrom process. Vote your favorites, and don’t forget to share.
