 New Zealand gum-diggers

New Zealand gum-diggers were individuals involved in the harvesting of kauri gum, a natural resin that comes from the kauri tree (Agathis australis) endemic to New Zealand. From the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, kauri gum was a valuable resource, used primarily for making varnishes, natural rubber substitutes, and other products. The gum would be collected from the forest floor, where it had been deposited after being exuded from the trees.