ABSTRACT
Industrial exhibitions in New Zealand can best be understood as exercises in design science, in that they comprised periodic audits of developing material and human resources that enabled national scenario-building exercises. They drew upon international comparative analysis in the fi rst fi fty years to develop critical debate and benchmarking and to foster industrial design education; and then drew upon combined regional and national exhibitions to develop a more coherent and plausible identity as a nation state. While they initially served commercial and imperial aims, they ultimately served to strengthen a national social welfare state.
