The railway line to Port Chalmers, photographed in the mid-to-late 1870s, provided a link to export markets for the regions opened by Vogel’s works policy. PHOTO: 4-925, SIR GEORGE GREY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, AUCKLAND LIBRARIES. : A colony divided

The original six provinces of 1853. Taranaki was called New Plymouth until 1858. Stewart Island was not included in any province at this stage. MAPS: Allan Knyaston/ODT : A colony divided

The provincial system expanded to 10 provinces. Hawke’s Bay was created in 1858, Marlborough (1859) and Southland (1861. Reunited with Otago in 1870). Stewart Island was incorporated from 1863 and Westland became a province in 1873. The Timaru and... : A colony divided

James Macandrew, with wheelbarrow, turned the first sod of the centrally funded Invercargill-Riverton railway in 1875, the same year he fought vigorously to save the provinces. PHOTO: P1998-028/09-001, HOCKEN COLLECTIONS, UARE TAOKA O HA-KENA, DUNEDIN. : A colony divided