Stock and station agents and wool brokers

This chapter contributes to a business history of Auckland by analysing the growth and development of its wool broking and stock and station agent industry since about the 1860s. Auckland was one of the major centres of the wool auction system for most of the period. The excellent international trade and shipping facilities, international business connections, and rapid population growth also caused agents to concentrate their merchandise business at Auckland as a conduit to international business networks. In addition, manufacturing style activities, such as fertiliser and seed production, were located in South Auckland to yield localised external economies of scale in this industrial area.