[Chiba]

One odd thing about us moving to NZ is that this is an almost trodden path for my parents. They were going to emigrate in 1976. Anyway, they still have some of the paperwork (packrats r us :roll), so I now have a copy of "New Zealand Retail Prices" for 1976/7!

Some examples:

Potatoes, per kg, 23 cents.
Flour, white, 1.5kg, 43 cents.

Boring, but it also has some amusing items...

Coal, delivered, 1/4 ton, 16$.
Piano, upright, iron frame, $1359.
Postage, surface letter, 1oz, 8 cents.
Mens trousers, sports, terylene, $30.18.
Rifle, 243 calibre, $273.96.
TV, colour, 26 inch, $1027 (a B&W set is $410)

If anyone's interested in the rest I can try to scan and OCR it. :)

[IanW99]

Interesting to note that it is now cheaper to buy a Television than it was at the time - shame that it's not the same for the other items :( .

Ian

[srivett]

Depends what kind of television you're buying ;)

[Super_BQ]

You have to remember at that time, NZ did not have free floating exchange rates like many nations did at the time. Locals could not import a car from overseas without having 'overseas funds'. Really, how can you compare that a 2nd hand car in NZ would sell for MORE than a new car that hasn't been imported in NZ yet? Actually that's the only time I could think where a new car would appreciate as soon as you driven off the car lot. Apart from currency restrictions, there were huge tarrifs and import taxes (to protect local jobs), enough to put the country in near bankrupcy (http://www.beehive.govt.nz/mallard/chile/1.cfm) (in 1984). Some of these restrictions still exist in Australia today ie. last year bananas went to $20 / kg :exit

A more meaningful comparison is to look at other western nations at the time. What would a colour TV cost in the US to a wage earner there compared to a NZ person wanting the same TV in NZ on their level of income?

You'll find most things (except cars) today in NZ are no different. My uncle is annoyed that a 0 point steer ride on lawn mower costs $9,000 NZ when the same one can be bought at Sears online in the US for 1/2 the price.

[Chiba]

I tried hard to find details of salaries in 1976, but all I can find are amounts adjusted to map to the present. Makes for easier comparisons, but in this case the raw numbers would be more useful. I was curious to see, for example, how the price of a colour TV compared to a typical monthly income.

Agreed on the fixed rate comment. Most people think that currencies have always floated, because they've never known anything else from their foreign holidays, but the Kiwi was only unpegged in March 1985.

[Super_BQ]

Though may not be related to 1976 (and more fuel to the fire), there was a time shortly before, that the NZ currency did not trade on a 'dollar' but much like the old UK system of 'shillings' and 'pence'. I remember my uncles telling me this and all the confusion they had when the country changed to $ & cents. So many shillings to the $ ? This was all forgotten and I don't think there's any such info online. Perhaps someone from that era, please do post.

[StevieD]

What a fantastic insight into the past though!! Love to find stuff like this, even though it is "recent" history, it is fascinating. I found an application form for a season ticket for the old English first division in 1984 - the dearest ticket was £78 - that would just about get you to the game now with a drink or two to make up the difference!