Rationing in New Zealand September 1939–June 1950

By Lynley Stone, February 2025.

A shortened version of this article was published in the Mt Albert Historical Society Newsletter 68, October 2024.

Introduction

Rationing had an enormous impact on private households in New Zealand between 1939 and 1950. During this period, almost everything was in short supply, and petrol, fabric and some food were formally rationed via coupons in ration books. This article draws on memories and memorabilia from Mt Albert and nearby suburbs, and places them in the context of the chronology and practical application of the official regulations in relation to households. Rationing outside the home is not the focus here, although is referred to at times to give interesting context.

New Zealanders living in 1939 were no strangers to periods of austerity. During the early 20^th century, World War I and its aftermath and then the Great Depression of the early 1930s were periods of scarce resources and precarious existence throughout the community. Although the later 1930s saw increased prosperity and access to consumer goods, budgets were managed carefully by households (Rogers, 2021), particularly as the threat of a new war loomed after the Munich crisis in September 1938. Restrictions began before the war. During the late 1930s, the new Labour Government’s policies initially saw export earnings drop while the level of imports remained high, leading to low reserves of overseas funds. To address this, at the end of 1938 restrictions were placed on imports, and so New Zealand went into the war with limits to what consumers could buy already in place.

The country tightened its collective belt once again after the outbreak of war in Europe on 3 September 1939, and clinched it even tighter after Japan entered the War on 7 August 1941. Supply lines were precarious, foreign funds were tight, and there was little opportunity for importation of non-essential items. New Zealand prioritised supplying food and materials to its own armed forces, to the people of Great Britain, and to the US forces in the Pacific. To keep this up, domestic consumption had to be managed.

Rationing ensured the fair distribution of limited quantities of goods and materials to all, across both domestic and industrial sectors. People were urged to “make do and mend,” “dig for victory,” reduce consumption and avoid waste.

Eleven lean years followed the outbreak of World War II. Government management of supply, and coupon rationing, remained in place until June 1950. The lengthy post-war period of rationing reflected the enormous job of rebuilding the world’s infrastructure. Manufacturing and agriculture, ports, railways and shipping had been destroyed or repurposed, economies had been gutted and financial priorities reset, and the workforce had been disrupted (K Road Heritage, 2020).

It may surprise younger readers that rationing continued, and in some cases was tightened, for an additional five years after the end of the War. Many of the attitudes, practices and recipes from this period continued to feature in family life through future decades. I hope this article helps raise awareness of the lived experience of ordinary New Zealanders.

September 1939: Supply Rationing

The Government’s main method of rationing to the domestic population was to limit the supply of products available to retailers, based on a proportion of average turnover or the number or registered or regular users. The shopkeepers then had to ensure fair distribution to their customers.

This proportional allocation to grocers went beyond the three foodstuffs that would ultimately require coupons: in theory, each shop received an equitable proportion of the available supply of both staple items and luxuries. This included eggs, bacon, fruit, sweets, and tobacco. How the grocer shared out their stock fairly was up to them, but they were subject to the fierce scrutiny of their customers on the lookout for any unfairness. Pity the reputation of a poor corner grocer caught out by an irate local housewife! However, even when shelves were bare, some items were legitimately kept aside, “under the counter” for specific customers who had supplementary coupon allocations or special needs.

Levels of supply to retailers were regularly reviewed and adjusted: sometimes controls were tightened, but also where possible they were loosened, such as at Christmas and other holidays. Christmas 1943 was particularly tight (Christmas Eve, 1943). However, even when times were very tough, parents would somehow obtain an orange, a shiny apple and a few sweets to put into the toes of their children’s Christmas stockings.

While there were many grumbles, New Zealanders mostly focused on a single goal – supporting the war effort and getting though.

After the war ended, on 2 September 1945, there was a hope that supply rationing would be lifted. It was a difficult position for the Government, as returning to normal supply was not a simple matter (Public opinion, 1945). Supply rationing continued to be used until June 1950.

Supply rationing: Tobacco

Tobacco was never subject to coupon rationing, despite considerable pressure from many quarters. The government recognised that only a proportion of the population used tobacco products, so it would be difficult to administer a coupon scheme.

Shopkeepers who sold tobacco products received a tightly controlled amount, and had to follow guidelines about how much could be sold to any particular individual. Of course, their regular customers always had priority.  There were several points of tension. Servicemen who were living in a military camp, who purchased tobacco from civilian shops rather than from their base canteens, were criticised for unnecessarily depriving civilians of the product. Those shoppers who purchased tobacco from more than one shop, thereby getting more than their fair share, were seen to be selfish. Throughout the war and immediately after it, there was a steady stream of military personnel home on leave or recently demobilised, living at home with their families. They were most aggrieved when they attempted to purchase tobacco at their local shop, to find that the allocated supply level had not yet been increased to include them (Tobacco trouble, 1945).

In the first half of 1941, £30,000 worth of tobacco was imported, with 70% of New Zealand’s tobacco coming from America; the following year, only £500 worth entered the country (Tobacco supply, 1943), and the Government was placing increasing emphasis on developing the local tobacco growing industry to offset imports.  Only raw tobacco leaf was being imported: there was a total ban on importing manufactured tobacco and cigarettes (Cigarettes and tobacco, 1943).

At times, it was a struggle for smokers to find any tobacco or cigarettes, let alone having choice between brands. New Zealanders purchased pre-made cigarettes, loose tobacco for roll-your-own cigarettes, as well as pipe and even chewing tobacco. Supply was particularly short during the second half of 1942 and early 1943 (Tobacco shortage causes concern, 1943). There was enough local raw material, and tobacco was an essential industry, but a shortage of labour for manufacturing was compounded by the refusal of tobacco factory staff to work unreasonable amounts of overtime (Cigarettes and tobacco, 1943), and paper for cigarettes and packaging was also in very short supply (Very short tobacco and cigarettes, 1942). The first priority for supply was always New Zealand troops overseas, followed by our service people at home. The remainder was rationed to the civilian population, using 1938 sales data, which was in places seriously skewed by wartime population shifts (Cigarettes and tobacco, 1943).

Despite the best efforts of retailers to eke out supplies, queues would rapidly form when a shop had received its fortnightly allocation of a desirable product such as tobacco – those who didn’t get there quickly risked missing out. In addition, there was an acute match shortage (Cigarettes and tobacco, 1943), and at certain times when there was plenty of tobacco on the local market, customers were required to buy several boxes of cigarettes in order to be permitted to purchase a box of tightly controlled matches (War’s impact on New Zealand, 1943). Razor blades, too, were in short supply (Very short tobacco and cigarettes, 1942). In 1943, Auckland artist Bessie Christie painted a small work called “Tobacco Queue, Karangahape Rd” (now in the Fletcher Trust Collection – click this link to see it: Christie, 1943). It shows a throng of men and women, bundled up in overcoats, patiently waiting outside a shop which is displaying advertisements for Craven A and Capstan tobacco.

Tobacco continued to be tightly supply rationed after the war ended. In October 1945, just as many demobilised solders were returning to their civilian lives, retailers were allocated an amount which was only 75% of their level of sales in the very tight period between November 1942 and April 1943. Sole tobacconists were allocated 30% extra on top of this, but it was still a very small supply (Tobacconists trouble, 1943). Gradually supply restrictions loosened although there continued to be shortages for several years.

September 1939: Petrol

Petrol and motor spirits were the first items to be directly rationed for private and domestic users, who had to make do with what was left after essential and semi-essential users had been given their share (vehicles used for business were assessed and placed into one of these categories) (Full details of petrol ration procedure, 1940). New Zealand had more than 300,000 motorists, the second highest level of car ownership in the world after America, with one car for every five people (How petrol rationing changed New Zealand, 1940), so rationing petrol was a significant and symbolic move, and one greeted with some grumbles.

All of New Zealand’s petrol was imported, and we were reliant on British and other foreign-owned tankers for our supply (Baker, 1965). Being at the end of such a precarious supply chain, as well as the need to conserve overseas funds and to build up local reserves (How petrol rationing changed New Zealand, 1940), meant that rationing here was stricter than in most other countries (Swanwick, 1993).

The sale of petrol was stopped completely for the first few days after war was declared on 3 September 1939 (How petrol rationing changed New Zealand, 1940). Two weeks later, on 15 September, the Supply Control Emergency Regulations 1939 introduced coupon rationing of 10 gallons a month for petrol and motor spirits for private car owners, with the clearly stated aim of ensuring there were enough reserves for the commercial and defence needs of the Dominion (Private car owners allowed, 1939). This limit was lifted on 1 December. The Government requested that motorists voluntarily reduce their consumption by 30%, but instead January 1940’s petrol consumption ballooned out to 12,000,000 gallons (How petrol rationing changed New Zealand, 1940). Urgent action was required. It was therefore reluctantly decided to introduce coupon rationing, with the aim of halving the monthly petrol consumption to 6,000,000 gallons (Full details of petrol ration procedure, 1940).

Coupon rationing began on 1 February 1940. Car owners were issued with sheets of consecutively numbered coupons which permitted them to buy either 8 gallons (36 litres) a month for cars under 14.5 horsepower, and 12 gallons (54 litres) for those over 14.5 horsepower. Motorcyclists were entitled to 4 gallons. Cars used for essential business work received 20 or 30 gallons, depending on size, but those deemed semi-essential had the standard allowance (Full details of petrol ration procedure, 1940).

Butchers, milkmen and other retailers continued to deliver to homes, but petrol rationing meant that at this time zones were introduced, at first voluntarily then later via regulation (Swanwick, 1993). This meant that grocers within the same zone had to share the same delivery vehicle.

This reduction worked: in August 1940 it was reported that New Zealand’s petrol rationing was saving 3,000,000 gallons a month (How petrol rationing changed New Zealand, 1940).

This low level allocation was manageable for the first two years of the war, then the scenario deteriorated dramatically. Immediately after Japan entered the war on 7 December 1941, all fuel sales to private individuals in New Zealand were banned for 2 and a half months to preserve precious resources.

Petrol was available again from 2 March 1942, but the allocation was lowered and it settled to 2 to 4 gallons a month (depending on the size of car). In September 1942 the ration was halved to 1 to 2 gallons a month (War’s impact on New Zealand, 1943). This was reviewed every month, and continued at this level until the end of November 1943.

The long period of extremely low level of availability resulted in many cars being taken off the road until supply improved, while others converted their vehicles to run on coke gas to supplement the petrol (How petrol rationing changed New Zealand, 1940). It was possible to get extra rations for special purposes but these were tightly controlled (Swanwick, 1993).

A Christmas allocation was permitted in December 1943 and January 1944 which doubled the previous allowance, to 2 to 4 gallons each month (More petrol, 1943). It then reverted to 1 to 2 gallons until December 1944, when again December and January were allocated double rations, before reverting to the lowest level again in February 1945. In May the allocation was increased to 2, 3 and 4 gallons, and in August 1945 it doubled to 4, 6 and 8 gallons.  

Post-war optimism saw the government abolish all petrol rationing controls on 30 May 1946: drivers were merely asked to be responsible in their level of use. This was a brief return to normality.

However, as overseas currency became squeezed, a 10% reduction of supply to retailers was introduced on 4 November 1947, putting responsibility for fair allocation back onto the front line staff. Both drivers and retailers realised that a return to coupons would make the situation easier to manage and lobbied for their use, and on 1 March 1948 petrol coupons were again issued (Government satisfaction over coupon system, 1948).

Private car drivers were now allowed 6, 9 or 12 gallons per month depending on the size of their vehicle. Motor cycles received three gallons, and coupons could be carried over to the following month (Details of petrol rationing, 1948).

Coupon-based petrol rationing was the first to be imposed and one of the last to be lifted, finally ending on 1 June 1950 (Petrol rationing ends in Dominion today, 1950). As soon as restrictions were lifted, there was a surge in demand for car purchasing, and prices in some cases doubled. Used car dealers looked forward to selling more larger model American cars, rather than the smaller British cars which had greater fuel economy (End of petrol rationing, 1950).

Petrol rationing did not only impact drivers: it also had a drastic impact on garages and service stations, most of which had lost up to 40% of their business by August 1940, and much more as ration levels were cut in subsequent years. Cars still needed to be serviced, but there were no new car imports, and overall things were a lot tighter. Thousands of motor mechanics who had lost their jobs joined the armed forces or began work in essential industry (How petrol rationing changed New Zealand, 1940).

July 1940: Paper

Paper was one of the first commodities to be rationed for businesses, in July 1940, and it impacted domestic consumers in many ways.

One was that butchers and bakers could no longer wrap meat and bread in paper, and shoppers were now required to bring their own containers when shopping, or to provide clean covered containers at their back door if meat was being delivered. This parallels the green movement today, where some purchasers take containers to shops to avoid plastic wrapping (Page, 2020).

When wrapping paper was used, housewives routinely smoothed it out and kept it for re-use. Printers and publishers struggled to obtain supplies, and the quality of paper available fell.

December 1941: Rubber

It was not only petrol rationing that restricted drivers. On 8 December 1941 Japan invaded Malaya and by March 1942 also held what had been the Dutch East Indies, capturing 90% of the world’s rubber production (Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage, 2024). The amount of rubber New Zealand imported in 1942 was less than a third of the 1941 level.

Consequently, everything was channelled to essential industry and military use. New tyres for domestic vehicles were unavailable from December 1941, although people joked that the tiny petrol ration meant that new ones were not needed, as their current should last for several decades (Swanwick, 1993). Other rubber products such as gumboots were also hard to obtain: only farmers with at least 12 cows could buy them (Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage, 2024).

As a consequence of the fuel and rubber rationing, walking and public transport became the main ways of getting around wartime Auckland. Mt Albert was very well served by the trams, which were cheap and frequent, but often crowded. Second hand bicycles were eagerly sought by people who needed to be mobile. Nationwide, the tourist industry took a huge hit as people could no longer travel freely for their holidays (How petrol rationing changed new Zealand, 1940).

April 1942: The Introduction of Ration Books

For the first two and a half years of the war, petrol was the only item controlled by coupons, which were issued to car owners. Stocks of most goods in shops were increasingly in short supply, caused by import controls, the diversion of material resources and labour to the armed forces and war manufacturing, and the need to export food and other products.

Japan’s entry into the war on 7 December 1941 increased the demand for war materials, and further constrained supply lines. To more efficiently manage the distribution of the country’s limited resources, a coupon-based rationing system was introduced on 27 April 1942 for some core food and fabric items.

Each individual had to register at a post office, and a ration book was issued to them. Everyone aged 10 and above were treated as an adult within this system. Registration opened on 13 April 1942, so this would have been an enormous administrative exercise over a short time period. These registrations allowed demographic changes to be monitored, and this was reflected in changes to the level of goods supplied to local shops (Tobacco quotas, 1945).

Everybody’s ration card had to be registered with a particular grocer, and usually one was chosen that was located close to home. Most domestic shopping was done by housewives who walked or took public transport to their local shops, or who had groceries delivered. Knowing who was shopping where allowed the Ministry of Supply to accurately distribute goods with minimum wastage, similar to how today’s supermarket loyalty cards allow distributors to understand shopping patterns in different communities.

Shopkeepers would cut out the appropriate coupons from their ration book as part of each transaction. If someone needed to purchase a rationed food item from a different grocer, their ration book had a limited number of  “emergency counterfoils” which could be filled in, cut out and attached to a regular coupon (Rogers, 2021).

In addition to the standard allocations, there were various types of supplementary coupons, where different groups could get more rations.  Pre-school and school-aged children, expectant and nursing mothers, people over 70, invalids with a range of conditions, and adults working in certain heavy industries were all covered by these variations.

Coupons had a face value of letters or numbers, rather than having a monetary value printed on them, which allowed for changes to be made to their value from time to time: there were frequent reviews and changes between 1942 and 1950. Once rationing of particular products was established, coupons were labelled (butter, meat, wool etc.), but each annual issue of ration books also included generic sheets of coupons with letters and numbers, which could be applied to anything that had to be rationed in the future (New books make rationing simpler, 1943).

The first ration books issued in April 1942 were described like this:

“The ration books, which are somewhat smaller than post office savings bank books, are of two kinds. That for males and children under 16 years contains four pages of unperforated coupons. The series bears the index letters S, T, M and O. The book for females over 16 years has an extra page of coupons, the index letter of which is X. Actually, the coupons could be used for any article. Each book has an individual serial number.” (Mistaken ideas in issue of new ration books, 1942).

There were restrictions on how many coupons could be spent at one time, and some coupons had to be spent within a certain brief timeframe (Wide rationing scheme, 1942), but overall, if you had the money and coupons, and if the shop you were registered to had enough stock of the rationed item, then you could buy your allocation.

People were constantly entreated to not use their full rations though. Each ration book carried the reminder on its back cover that “Every coupon saved means more food for Britain.” Coupons were not supposed to be used by anybody apart from the person they were issued for (or their household shopper), but of course coupons were traded and gifted.

Ration books were issued annually, through post offices and other designated locations, upon presentation of the current ration book, and social security registration book for everyone 16 and over. A designated person could do this transaction for all members of their household, so long as the appropriate form was filled in by the ration book holder (New ration book issue this month, 1945).

There were nine series of ration books issued:

• First Series: April 1942
• Second Series: October 1942  (Issue of new ration books, 1942)
• Third Series: October 1943  (New books make rationing simpler, 1943)
• Fourth Series: October 1944  (Ration books: issue of new series, 1944)
• Fifth Series: October 1945  (New ration book issue this month, 1945)
• Sixth Series: October 1946  (Rationing Controller, 1946)
• Seventh Series: October 1947  (Issue of new ration books, 1947)
• Eighth Series: October 1948  (Meat ration ends, 1948)
• Ninth Series: October 1949  (Butter ration cards, 1949)

April 1942: Sugar

The rapid Japanese advance through South East Asia brought the War uncomfortably close to New Zealand. The bulk of New Zealand’s sugar imports came from Queensland, which by March 1942 was converting many sugar factories into munitions factories (Guns instead of sugar, 1942).  The fall of the Philippines and Java to the Japanese also reduced the international sugar supply (Rationed from today, 1942). New Zealand’s consumer belt was tightened another notch. The Rationing Emergency Regulations 1942 were issued on 24 April 1942 (New Zealand Government, 1942), and three days later rationing was introduced for sugar and stockings.

Sugar was the first food item rationed by coupons, and could only be purchased from licenced retailers by people who had registered as their customers (Rationed from today, 1942). The allocation of 12oz (340g) a week for each person remained consistent for most of the rationing period. This reduced New Zealand’s annual sugar consumption by around 10,000 tons (roughly 10 million kg).

Each year there was an additional allowance of sugar made available for domestic jam making – this varied by year, between 6 and 12 lb (2.7-5.4kg). Golden syrup, a by-product of the manufacture of sugar, was not rationed and became a popular alternative, and it remains a kiwi kitchen staple (Taylor, 2020). Other sweetener alternatives included treacle, honey, and glucose syrup. Household cooks were told that carrots, parsnips, swedes and beetroot could add a little sweetness in appropriate dishes, and that grated carrot worked well in marmalade or fruit pies. Raisins and sultanas were also alternative sweeteners but were difficult to obtain, and saccharine was available but caution was advised due to its intensity. A pinch of bicarbonate of soda was said to reduce acidity in stewed fruit, thereby making it taste sweeter (Sugar substitutes, 1942).

Sugar rationing ended on Friday 27 August 1948. Immediately this announcement was made, the President of the New Zealand Dental Association, Dr R.E.T Hewat, sounded the alarm about future tooth decay (Use of sugar, 1948).

Interestingly, some grocers reported that the amount of sugar purchased fell notably after rationing was removed: it seems that sugar was the one rationed food where people purchased the whole of their entitlement, regardless of their actual level of need (Butter rationing ends tomorrow, 1950).

April 1942: Hosiery

The second coupon introduced on 27 April 1942 was for Hosiery. It allowed women over 16 one pair of stockings for the next three months, which could be purchased from any retailer who held stock, although women were entreated to only buy when a new pair was needed rather than rushing out to purchase their allocation straight away (Rationed from today, 1942). Stockings had traditionally been made of silk, with Japan a major supplier, and in recent years nylon stockings had started to be sold. Now these materials were much harder to come by and were needed for military equipment like parachutes and tents, leaving little for the civilian population (Geary, 2020). Stockings were fragile, and laddered easily. When no alternative was available, girls painted their legs (Montgomery, 2018) and drew a line up the back of their calves to mimic seams before going out dancing.

In May 1942, in the Battle for the Coral Sea, the United States Navy prevented Japan from seizing Port Moresby in New Guinea. In June, the Battle of Midway dealt Japan another blow. Its rapid expansion had been halted, but much of South East Asia was under its control (Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage, 2024), and Auckland was about to be transformed.

Six weeks after stocking coupons were first issued, on 12 June 1942, the first United States troops arrived in Auckland, and large numbers of them would be stationed in and around the city until October 1944. Through their camp stores, individual soldiers had access to a range of hard-to-come-by products which they generously shared with children, young women who danced with them, and families who welcomed them into their homes. These luxuries included stockings, as well as cigarettes, Wrigleys chewing gum, peppermint Lifesavers, Hersheys chocolate bars, and sometimes even parachute silk.

On 16 July 1942, the next stocking ration was announced. Women were able to purchase just one pair of stockings until the end January 1943 (Stocking ration, 1942). This settled down to two pairs a year. The April 1942 ration was only for stockings, but on 25 July 1942, the hosiery ration was expanded to include cashmere, wool and gym hose (Rationing of clothing, 1942).

Recognising how important stockings were, special provision was made for young women who turned 16 during a rationing year to receive a reasonably fair allocation of hosiery coupons, depending on the month of their birthdays (New ration book issue this month, 1945).

Separate hosiery coupons continued to be issued until 16 July 1946. From that date, stockings could be purchased using a standard clothing coupon, with one pair of stockings requiring two coupons. This reflected the fact that silk was again able to be imported into New Zealand, and local manufacturers were returning to peace-time production (Stockings back on general clothing ration, 1947). New Zealand-made nylon stockings were on the market by Christmas 1946 (Nylons to be made in NZ, 1946).

May 1942: Clothing, Footwear and Household Linens

During the early stages of the war, the large Auckland department stores continued to advertise a good range of fabric and fancy accessories. However, by 29 May 1942, one month after coupon rationing for sugar and stockings was introduced, the Clothing Rationing Order 1942 was enacted, introducing coupon rationing for other clothing, footwear and household linens (Wide rationing scheme, 1942).

Each person was allocated 52 coupons a year for clothing, fabric, footwear and household linen. In this first year, people were told to use the M coupons from their ration books (Rationing of clothing, 1942) – subsequent ration books had clearly labelled clothing coupons. 26 coupons could be used every six months. The number of clothes coupons required depended on the amount of fabric needed to make a garment, and were the same regardless of whether the purchase was for ready made clothes or fabric to sew at home.

Two coupons were needed for a woman’s or girl’s blouse; three for a skirt or cardigan, four for a dress, five for slacks. A man’s or boy’s pyjamas needed four coupons; trousers required five; an overcoat or raincoat needed twelve; while a three piece suit required sixteen coupons. Shoes needed three coupons; and sandals or sandshoes needed two. Bloomers or underpants required two coupons. You needed one coupon for four handkerchiefs (Rationing of clothing, 1942).

Initially wool and household linens (including blankets, towels, quilts and furnishing fabrics) had to be purchased using clothing coupons, but from the October 1943 ration book issue onwards, these became separate categories of coupon. Expectant and new mothers were given a special allowance of 26 coupons, upon provision of a medical certificate, although infants’ napkins were not rationed (New books make rationing simpler, 1943). Clothing that was to be sent to troops overseas did not need coupons provided it was posted directly from the retailer (Rationing of clothing, 1942).

Clothing coupons could be redeemed at any shop that had stock you wanted to buy. However, access to clothing was tight, and most clothing manufacturers had moved over to war production, so many clothes were sewed at home or by small local seamstresses. Even some second hand clothing items required ration coupons, if they were priced above a particular amount (Rationing of clothing, 1942). People had to balance cost, availability, number of coupons and patriotic attitudes that waste should be minimised. Regulations guided this too: for example, from 14 January 1943, embroidery, lace, pockets, applique and other unnecessary elements were banned on women’s nightwear. Dressing gowns and housecoats could not be made from artificial silk, rayon, or most types of cotton (Simplified clothing, 1943).

Some brides married in day-frocks or dresses that could be re-purposed for daily wear, but for others a special wedding dress was an escape from the dreary wartime fashion (Geary, 2020) – some even made out of parachute silk (Montgomery, 2018). Mt Albert resident Doreen Downing remembered the whole family contributing clothing coupons for her cousin’s bridal party.

Other Depression-era clothing economies were still standard practice. Doreen’s mother extended the hems and cuffs of Doreen’s winter coat with fur to accommodate a growth spurt, and knitted her a new cardigan from wool unpicked from old garments.

Pat Pound from Westmere remembered swapping clothing coupons for tea coupons with neighbours, being given second hand clothes by neighbours with older daughters, and how going barefoot was common.

“I was the Coupon kid who, one day a week, went round the various neighbours and swapped the coupons we could do without for the ones the neighbours didn’t want. For example, over our back fence the neighbours had 2 daughters, both of working age, who loved pretty clothes, so they took our clothing and stocking coupons and we in return received their tea … coupons. I don’t remember wearing shoes to school until I went to Pasadena Intermediate, so I imagine all our leather went into Boots for the “Boys”.”

Clothing rationing ceased on New Year’s Eve 1947. Minister of Supply Arnold Nordmeyer thanked New Zealanders for their cooperation with the rationing scheme, and asked that consumers not go mad buying new clothes, because supply was still tenuous (Rationing ends, 1947). He was wasting his breath: by the middle of 1948, Christian Dior’s ‘New Look’ was sweeping the world, inspiring a new generation of fashion designers and home sewers who reacted against wartime austerity and embraced the new style. Sherley Gibson, an Avondale bride who married in Mt Albert Methodist Church in April 1948, filled her glory box with newly sewn clothes, which a few months later were all out of fashion.

Mt Albert resident Shirley Henderson remembered the impact of this:

“All of a sudden, after the lean, sparse war years, an irresistible array of colourful fabrics appeared in the shops and “The New Look” was born. Swirly full-skirted frocks, some with stiffened net underlays, were the order of the day. Swing coats with lots of gores, or cut-on-the-cross at the back fell into soft folds, were cape-like but gave an “A-line” effect as well. Nifty two-piece suits, some with nipped-in waists and peplum-styled jackets were considered very smart. Halter-necks, fischu and off-the-shoulder styles were popular for evening wear, and sunfrocks, the latter being bright and colourful.”

June 1942: Tea

The third set of ration coupons that was introduced, from 1 June 1942, was for tea. This, too, was as a direct result of the war in the Pacific. 25% of New Zealand’s tea supply had previously come from Java, which was invaded by Japan on 28 February 1942. (Java’s Dutch defenders surrendered to Japan on 12 March 1942 Battle of Java – Wikipedia).  Most of the remainder of New Zealand’s tea supply came from Ceylon and India, and supply lines from these countries could no longer be guaranteed. New Zealand had six month’s supply in reserve (Tea rationing, 1942).

2oz a week was allowed per person, including children. This only related to what was consumed at home: as with sugar, separate arrangements were made for appropriate supply for workplace tea breaks, hotels, restaurants etc. Unlike sugar, tea coupons could be used at any retailer, but shopkeepers were required to apply for a licence to sell tea, to ensure that they received the appropriate ration. From this time on it was prohibited to include packets of tea in food parcels to be sent overseas (Tea rationing, 1942). To save on packaging, a half pound packet (8oz = 225g) was the smallest available to buy, requiring 4 coupons.

The ration levels give an insight into who was drinking tea in New Zealand households. Initially 2oz a week was allocated to everyone apart from infants, but from 1 November 1942 children under 10 no longer received a tea ration.

From 1 August 1946, people over 70 received an additional ration equivalent to 4lb per year (1.8kg, approximately 1.2oz a week). Tea rationing ended on 31 May 1948, once supply lines from Ceylon and India were looking healthy and New Zealand had built up an adequate tea reserve (Tea rationing ends May 31, 1948).

June 1943: Eggs

Many households kept a few hens, mostly fed on kitchen scraps. If there was room, people put in some sort of vegetable garden. There was a massive government push for this, as the American forces were taking as many vegetables as we could supply: the slogan was “Dig for Victory.” (Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage, 2024). Fruit trees were also common in larger sections, and many Mt Albert residents, living in a suburban area with good sized sections and volcanic soil, would have been well placed to supplement what was in the shops with some home grown eggs and produce.

During the early years of the War, the Plunket Society and the Internal Marketing Division ran for an informal egg rationing scheme for expectant mothers and young children. However, overall there was a national egg shortage, and by winter 1943 the Government was particularly concerned that this volunteer-run scheme was not sufficient to meet the needs of urban residents of Auckland and Wellington. The Egg Rationing Order 1943 gave control of egg distribution to the Rationing Controller, and introduced rationing to direct more eggs to grocery shops in these cities (Winter egg rationing scheme, 1943). This was not a cross-the board coupon-based rationing system. Members of target groups registered as ‘preferential consumers’ and shopkeepers were allocated extra stock and were able to prioritise the supply to those individuals. This ensured that pregnant and nursing mothers, children under 5, and some invalids had access to a guaranteed egg ration.

Eggs were the final food group to have rationing lifted, with the priority allocation system being lifted three days after butter rationing ended, on 7 June 1950. It was noted that supplies were still short, and it was now up to retailers to ensure that people who needed priority access got their fair share of eggs (Egg priority system, 1950).

October 1943: Butter

New Zealand butter was considered to be the best in the world, and had long been an export staple. As the war in Europe became increasingly grim, New Zealand exported as much butter to Britain as possible to support their isolated population, who were living on a weekly ration of only 2oz butter and 2 oz of other fat per adult. Through New Zealand’s butter rationing, New Zealanders reduced their annual dairy consumption by a quarter, and allowed an additional 8000 tons of butter to be exported each year to Britain. During the rationing period, 97 percent of New Zealand’s butter exports went to Britain (Rationing of butter, 1950).

On 28 October 1943, coupon-rationing of butter was introduced here, and each person was issued coupons for 8oz (225g) butter a week, to be purchased in one pound blocks, requiring 2 coupons. Deliveries to retailers were cut immediately by one third of their previous supply (Brickell, 2002).

There was no pre-printed butter ration page in the ration book that had just been issued in October 1943. Shoppers were instructed to use the A coupons in their books to buy butter. Two of the numbered coupons could be used in each fortnight: A1 and A2, each worth half a pound of butter, could only be used between 1-14 November 1943 (Butter cut, 1943).  Subsequent issues of the ration books had pre-printed labelled coupons.

Despite patriotic sentiment, butter rationing was the most difficult for housewives to cope with, and there were many grumbles. It had been very cheap before the war – 1s 6d a pound (Taylor, 1986). Sandwiches and home baking were staples of New Zealand cuisine, so the rationing of butter, coming alongside limits on sugar and eggs, made for some grim eating. Various recipes did the rounds to extend butter to make it go further, using warm milk or milk and gelatine, and no-egg or one-egg cake recipes were widely shared (Rogers, 2021). A butcher could supply pork lard and beef suet or fat to make dripping, which were used as alternatives where a recipe would allow (Taylor, 2020).

From 11 June 1945, a month after VE Day, the New Zealand butter allowance was reduced to 6oz (170g) until 24 October 1949 when it was raised to 8oz again. The allowance for people over 70 and expectant and nursing mothers was raised a year earlier. Coupons were no longer needed for butter from 4 June 1950. After price control was lifted, the price of butter increased to 2s a pound (Butter rationing ends tomorrow, 1950).

October 1943: Cream and Cheese

Cheese was never rationed by coupon, but supply was limited, and from the same date that butter was rationed, almost every drop of cream had to be used to produce butter and cheese for the export market. Cream was only available to invalids, in hospitals and similar institutions, who needed a high fat diet; even farming families were forbidden to use or consume cream from their own cows. Despite this ban,  many families with access to a milking cow made their own butter, which tended to have a less palatable taste than the commercial product.

The supply rationing of cheese and cream was lifted on 23 February 1950 (Only one item is now left on the ration calendar, 1950).

March 1944: Meat

From the beginning of the War, New Zealand focused on supplying the needs of its own armed forces, and exporting as much meat as possible to Britain, so housewives quickly got used to making do with whatever meat was available on the local market.

The Pacific War added a new dimension: between May 1943 and 17 December 1945, fresh pork could not be sold on the domestic market at all, as the United States military needed all the ham and bacon they could get from us, as well as taking a considerable portion of our fruit and vegetable production.

As the war dragged on, Britain became increasingly desperate for food, and further sacrifices were required from its loyal Dominion. On 6 March 1944 meat rationing by coupon was introduced in New Zealand (Rationing of meat, 1944). This initiative reduced the country’s meat consumption by a third, allowing an extra 10,000 tons a year to be exported.

Rationing applied to almost all substantial cuts of fresh beef, veal, mutton and lamb but excluded mutton skirts, bacon, ham, sausages, offal, poultry, rabbits, fish, etc. Each adult and school aged child had coupons for 2.5 pounds (just over 1kg) of meat a week, with children between 6 months and 5 years entitled to half rations. This allocation was set by the Health Department who considered it a healthy level of consumption (Rationing of meat, 1944). Compare this with the ration in Britain with each person able to purchase just under 1lb of meat.

Unlike sugar, butter and tea where each coupon represented a certain weight of product, meat coupons represented an amount of money. When they were first introduced, the coupons issued to each person could be used to buy 1s 9d worth of meat a week. Strict price controls ensured that this would enable the purchase of 2.5 pounds of meat per person (Rationing of meat, 1944).

Each person had six coupons per week, five worth 3d and one worth 6d. The redeemable value of this larger coupon could be varied by official decree up to 9d, to accommodate seasonal price fluctuations. Butchers were issued with 1d coupons to give as change, where necessary (Rationing of meat, 1944).

Unlike the sugar ration, people did not need to register with a particular butcher to buy their meat, although they had to redeem any 1d “change” coupons at the butcher who issued them (Rationing of meat, 1944). Coupons were issued each fortnight, upon presentation of a ration book, and the sheets had to be pasted into the book. They were numbered, and to avoid hoarding of coupons, each number had to be used within a specified 2 week period: these were announced in the newspaper.  Even with the coupons for cuts of fresh meat, there was often little choice of what to buy in butcher shops. The unrationed availability of cheaper cuts meant that many people who grew up during this period developed a genuine enjoyment of offal. If someone ate rationed meat at a restaurant, they had to surrender a 3d meat coupon with their payment. Special provision was made for meat for cats and dogs (Rationing of meat, 1944).

Pat Pound remembered the meat her family ate:

“MEAT — LUVELY MEAT. There wasn’t any good meat, it all went overseas for “Our Boys”. All that could be bought, only with coupons, was mostly mince (fatty as!) and stewing chops (neck) and shin meat. We always ate meat every meal, but only because we ate offal: brains, kidneys, liver, sweetbreads,  etc. I never learnt to think of them as yukky, and still love them to this day, not liver, but ox tongue is still one of my favourites. You didn’t need coupons for offal. Or RABBITS, Yum! The Rabbity Man came round and sold them for 1/- … And my Dad went fishing, always successfully, and we would go out to Pt. Chevalier Reef at low tide for mussels, crayfish and always dug up cockles on the way back to shore. I have no memory of ever being hungry.”

Ruth Williamson, nee Marshall, grew up in Woodward Road. She remembered how her family got through quite comfortably, despite the rationing.

“Uncle Frank’s entire meat ration for the week went to feed our 3 cats their gravy beef. We ran out of coupons part way through the week, but sausages and lambs’ fry weren’t rationed, and there seemed to be no shortage of fish. Mother used to buy a bottle of oysters from the fish shop for half a crown, and serve them in parsley sauce. She cooked for seven, and no-one went hungry.”

Meat rationing ended on 27 September 1948 (New Zealand Government, 1948), with butchers anticipating that demand for the better cuts would increase significantly (Meat ration ends, 1948).

Conclusion

There were relatively few items explicitly rationed by coupons during World War Two: petrol, sugar, tea, meat, butter, stockings, clothes and fabric. Most of the rationing was done by limiting supply to retailers. While petrol was rationed immediately upon the start of the War, meat rationing did not begin for another four and a half years, in March 1944, and rationing continued for some products for almost five years after the war ended, well into the “baby boomer” period.

New Zealand’s experience was shaped by the policies of a strong Labour Government, as well as by events and shocks in the European and Pacific wars, and by the needs of our allies, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, for material support.

For people at home, it was a time of worry and making do, but also a time of overall good health. New Zealanders were fortunate to have access to generous rations of good quality food, compared with what was available to people in other countries.

PLEASE HELP
I wrote this article because I could not find a published source that gave a factual overview which included the level of detail that I wanted for my own use (exact dates, etc). Now this is on the web, it can be edited and updated as needed. If you have read this far, then you might have things to share to make it more complete. Please do!

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SOURCES

Mt Albert Historical Society is deeply grateful to Phyllis Mealing, who donated her ration book, other memorabilia and written memories of Mt Albert during the war. She lived at 25 Wairere Ave, and in October 1944 was registered with McCully and McHardy, grocers, just around the corner at 53 Asquith Ave, which until recently was a dairy.

We also treasure the memories that were recorded in Mt Albert Community Library’s Memories of Mt Albert books from 1999 and 2002, which is where we draw the quotations from Doreen Downing, Shirley Henderson, Pat Pound and Ruth Williamson.

Most of the sources in the References List are newspaper articles, accessed via the National Library of New Zealand’s magnificent Papers Past platform. These articles tell us how information was being conveyed to New Zealanders at the time, and most are worth clicking through to read full article.

The official history of this period is contained in two books, both part of The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War. The first is J.V.T Taylor’s book War Economy (1965), and the second is Nancy Taylor’s book The New Zealand People at War – The Home Front (1986). These books have provided too many facts and insights into the context of rationing for me to reference each one in the text above. They are essential reading for anyone interested in this topic. Both are available online on the NZETC platform, but note that at the time of writing this, hyperlinks between some sections of the 1965 book are broken, so it is best to access each chapter from the book’s Index page.

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SOME IN-DEPTH READS

I recommend 2 books (see above):

J.V.T. Taylor’s book War Economy (1965) and Nancy Taylor’s book The New Zealand People at War (1986)

I used very few 21st century secondary sources, but I recommend three beautifully researched and written pieces which give fascinating insight into key topics. They are:

How wartime shortages impacted cooking (from Auckland Libraries)

Rogers, Harriet. (2021). Wartime cooking and rationing in New Zealand. Heritage et AL: Auckland Libraries. https://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2021/01/wartime-cooking-and-rationing-in-new.html

Wartime fashion (from the New Zealand Fashion Museum)

Geary, Cecilie. (2020). Fashion by decree 1940-1945. New Zealand Fashion Museum. https://nzfashionmuseum.org.nz/fashion-by-decree/

A thorough analysis of “New Look” fashion (from Journal of Consumer Culture)

Brickell, Chris. (2002). Through the (New) looking glass. Journal of Consumer Culture 2(2), 241-269. https://brickell.co.nz/docs/newlookarticle.pdf

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REFERENCES

Baker, J.V.T. (1965). War economy. Wellington: Historical Publications Branch. Part of: The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945. NZETC. http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Econ.html

Brickell, Chris. (2002). Through the (New) looking glass. Journal of Consumer Culture 2(2), 241-269. https://brickell.co.nz/docs/newlookarticle.pdf

Butter cut: Weekly ration: Half pound a head (1943, October 28). New Zealand Herald. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19431028.2.15

Butter ration cards (1949, October 5). Ashburton Guardian. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG19491005.2.26

Butter rationing ends tomorrow. (1950, June 3). Wanganui Chronicle. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC19500603.2.16

Christie, Bessie. (1943). Tobacco queue, Karangahape Rd. Fletcher Trust Collection. https://fletchercollection.org.nz/artworks/tobacco-queue-karangahape-road-auckland/

Christmas Eve: Crowds throng streets. (1943, December 27). https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19431227.2.30

Cigarettes and tobacco: Causes of shortage. (1943, May 1), Dominion. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19430501.2.12

Details of petrol rationing: Amount based on HP of car. (1948, February 18). Wanganui Chronicle. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC19480218.2.29

Egg priority system. (1950, June 7). Greymouth Evening Star. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GEST19500607.2.100

End of petrol rationing. (1950, June 2). Press. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19500602.2.8

Food and Rationing Control (1944, June 29). Cat and dog meat. Dominion. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19440629.2.107.1

For these three reasons Vauxhall 10 gives you more for your money. (1938, September 13). Waikato Times. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19380913.2.10.2

Full details of petrol ration procedure. (1940, January 25). Northern Advocate. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19400125.2.23

Geary, Cecilie. (2020). Fashion by decree 1940-1945. New Zealand Fashion Museum. https://nzfashionmuseum.org.nz/fashion-by-decree/

General satisfaction over coupon system. (1948, March 1). Northern Advocate. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19480301.2.11

Government stops petrol sales. (1941, December 15). New Zealand Herald. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19411215.2.18.7

Guns instead of sugar (1942, March 6). Opotiki News. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OPNEWS19420306.2.10

How petrol rationing changed New Zealand. (1940, August 15). The Sun. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/230917270

Issue of new ration books (1942, October 17). Southland Times. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19421017.2.68

Issue of new ration books. (1947, October 11). Bay of Plenty Times. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/BOPT19471011.2.12

John Bull Stores: Sugar rationing lifted. (1948, August 28). Gisborne Herald. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GISH19480826.2.10.7

K Road Heritage (2020, March 9). ‘The Tobacco Queue’ [Facebook post]. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AxRq6UcqA/

Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage (2024). Challenges. https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/second-world-war-at-home/challenges

Meat ration ends: Butter restrictions to continue. (1948, September 27). Press. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19480927.2.63

Mistaken ideas in issue of new ration books. (1942, April 14). Northern Advocate. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19420414.2.75

Montgomery, Moya. (2018). Reflecting on wartime rationing. Te Whakairinga Mutu – Air Force Museum of New Zealand. https://airforcemuseum.co.nz/blog/reflecting-on-wartime-rationing/

New books make rationing simpler. (1943, October 13). Northern Advocate. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19431013.2.66

New ration book issue this month. (1945, October 4). Evening Post. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19451004.2.49

New ration books (1946, October 6). Otago Daily Times. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19461008.2.45

New Zealand Government. (1942). The rationing emergency regulations 1942. https://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/num_reg/rer1942314/

New Zealand Government. (1948). Meat rationing revocation order 1948. https://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/num_reg/mrro1948300/

No more rationing when peace comes again. (1945, July 4). Waikato Independent. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAIKIN19450704.2.15

Nylons to be made in NZ. (1946, July 11). Wanganui Chronicle. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC19460711.2.9

Only one item is now left on ration calendar. (1950, June 5). Central Hawke’s Bay Press. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHBP19500605.2.32

Page, Christine. (2020). Tairāwhiti’s Second World War memories: 5: Food and rationing. Tairawhiti Museum. https://tairawhitimuseum.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/5-World-War-II-Food-and-rationing.pdf

Petrol ration reduced: One third less for private cars. (1940, July 1). Press. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19400701.2.37

Petrol rationing ends in Dominion today. (1950, June 1). Gisborne Herald. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GISH19500601.2.85

Private car owners allowed ten gallons of petrol a month. (1939, September 11). Central Hawkes Bay Press. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHBP19390911.2.28

Public opinion: Shortages of grocery lines. (1945, November 13). Southland Times. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19451113.2.10

Ration books: Issue of new series. (1944, October 10). Evening Post. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19441010.2.25

Rationed from today: Sugar and women’s hosiery. (1942, April 27). Press. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19420427.2.36

Rationing Controller. (1946, October 7). New ration books. Dunstan Times. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DUNST19461007.2.4.1

Rationing ends: All clothing. (1947, December 1). Gisborne Herald. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GISH19471201.2.73

Rationing of butter: Removal after six years. (1950, May 27). Press. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19500527.2.55

Rationing of clothing: Coupons from today. (1942, May 29). Southland Times. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19420529.2.21

Rationing of meat. (1944, February 17). Press. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440217.2.43

Rogers, Harriet. (2021). Wartime cooking and rationing in New Zealand. Heritage et AL. Auckland Libraries. https://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2021/01/wartime-cooking-and-rationing-in-new.html

Simplified clothing: Restrictions on underwear. (1943, January 15). Ashburton Guardian. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG19430115.2.73

Stocking ration. (1942, July 16). Waikato Times. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19420716.2.85

Stockings back on general clothing ration. (1947, June 13). Evening Star. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19470613.2.38

Sugar substitutes. (1942, April 4). Evening Star. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19420404.2.82

Swanwick, Francis. (1993, September 3). Wartime rationing of petrol recalled. Kete Horowhenua (clipping). https://horowhenua.kete.net.nz/item/8974addc-63e4-4bbd-8d70-9f965d510d09/pdf

Taylor, Alice. (2020, May 20). A history of making do. Otago Daily Times. https://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/history-making-do

Taylor, Nancy. (1986). New Zealand people at war: The home front. Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs. https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/20210106155406/http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-1Hom.html

Tea rationing: Scheme begins today. (1942, June 1). Press. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19420601.2.58

Tea rationing ends May 31. (1948, May 22). Northern Advocate. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19480522.2.25

Tobacco quotas. (1945, August 2). Manawatu Times. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19450802.2.16

Tobacco shortage causes concern to Taranaki smokers. (1943, May 8). Taranaki Daily News. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19430508.2.21

Tobacco supply: Difficulties of retailers. (1943, April 29). Evening Star. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19430429.2.31

Tobacco trouble. (1945, December 17). Evening Post. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19451217.2.34.6

Tobacconists troubles. (1945, October 22). Evening Post. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19451022.2.24

Use of sugar: Control suggested by dentist (1948, August 25). Ashburton Guardian. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG19480825.2.23

Very short tobacco and cigarettes. (1942, December 9). Waikato Independent. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAIKIN19421209.2.4

War’s impact on New Zealand. (1943, April 27). Ellesmere Guardian. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EG19430427.2.3

Wide rationing scheme: Clothing, footware and linen. (1942, May 29). Evening Post. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19420529.2.39

Winter egg rationing scheme. (1943, June 9). Evening Post. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19430609.2.29

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