40 Wonderful Kodachrome Slides Capture Everyday Life in New Zealand During the 1960s

New Zealand in the 1960s experienced significant social change and modernization. The decade saw economic growth, increased urbanization, and a rise in consumer culture. There were also notable social movements, including growing awareness of Māori rights and women’s liberation.

The country maintained strong ties with the UK but began to develop a more independent foreign policy. Investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure were significant, and cultural influences from the US and UK grew.

These wonderful Kodachrome slides from Dave’s Old Slides were taken by photographer Mary M. McCalman (1921-2017) that show everyday life in New Zealand during the 1960s.

Tulips, New Zealand, circa 1963

Unidentified family group, New Zealand, circa 1960s

At a New Zealand wedding, 1968

At a New Zealand wedding, circa 1960s

Beard growing competition, Owaka, New Zealand, 1966

Bedford truck with hay bales, New Zealand, circa 1963

Bus ONO 59 in Wellington, New Zealand, 1968

Cambridge, New Zealand, circa late 1960s

Croquet and the Blue Baths, Rotorua, New Zealand, 1968

Evans Sawmill near Tuatapere, Southland, New Zealand circa 1960

Garden group, New Zealand, circa 1960s

Girls with kittens, New Zealand, circa 1960s

Glenfalloch, Dunedin, New Zealand, circa 1960s

Group portrait, New Zealand, circa 1960s

Halfmoon Bay, Stewart Island, New Zealand. The aircraft is a Grumman Wigeon, 1969

Hanmer, Canterbury, New Zealand, circa 1960s

Humber 80 at Lower Hutt, New Zealand, circa 1960s

Ice skating at Queenstown, New Zealand, circa 1960s

MV Waiwera, Bluff, New Zealand, circa 1960s

MV Waiwera, Bluff, New Zealand, circa 1960s

Northern Monarch luxury landliner on the Desert Road, New Zealand, circa late 1960s

Old hearse, Catlins Centennial, New Zealand, 1966

On a wedding day at Balclutha, New Zealand. The church is the Clutha Baptist Church, circa 1960s

Overlooking Wellington Harbour, New Zealand, 1968

Paterson Inlet, Stewart Island, New Zealand, circa 1960s

Pollard Park, Blenheim, New Zealand, circa 1960s

Reading the Weekly News, New Zealand, circa 1960s

RSA float, Catlins Centennial, New Zealand, 1966

Saracen at Picton, New Zealand, circa 1960s

Te Anau, New Zealand, circa 1960s

THC Milford, New Zealand, circa late 1960s

The Tourist Air Travel Ltd Grumman G-44A Widgeon aircraft ZK-BAY, Halfmoon Bay, Stewart Island, New Zealand, circa 1960s

Three women, Isabel McCalman at centre, New Zealand, 1968

Tutuila guest house, now Hulbert House, Queenstown, New Zealand, circa 1963

Two men sitting next to cars, New Zealand, circa 1960s

Walter Peak Station, Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand, 1968

Wedding group, New Zealand, 1968

Wedding group, New Zealand, circa 1960s

Wedding group, New Zealand, circa 1960s

"Mirror! Mirror!", Wakatipu from Kawarau Falls bridge, New Zealand, circa 1960s