Flatland

A DigitalNZ Story by Sienna Latham

“I call our world Flatland, not because we call it so, but to make its nature clearer to you, my happy readers, who are privileged to live in Space.” — Edwin Abbott Abbott, 'Flatland'

flats, flats, flatness

Image: Exterior view, state flats, The Terrace, Wellington

Exterior view, state flats, The Terrace, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: A poem of Kaipara Flat

A poem of Kaipara Flat

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Totara Flat

Totara Flat

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: State flats.

State flats.

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Flat living room

Flat living room

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Flat Out

Flat Out

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: View of Palmerston North

View of Palmerston North

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Flats, Petone, Wellington

Flats, Petone, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Gateway flats, Wellington

Gateway flats, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Tawa Flat, Wellington

Tawa Flat, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Boxhill Flats, Wellington

Boxhill Flats, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Tuhara Flat, Whakaki

Tuhara Flat, Whakaki

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Old middens, Paremata Flat

Old middens, Paremata Flat

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Moving Pictures. Totara Flat

Moving Pictures. Totara Flat

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Clifton Terrace flats, Wellington

Clifton Terrace flats, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Miller's Flat

Miller's Flat

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Model for Quinran Flats

Model for Quinran Flats

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Dairy Flat, Rodney County

Dairy Flat, Rodney County

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Kaipara Flats, Rodney District

Kaipara Flats, Rodney District

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Brian's Flat, Lake Ohia

Brian's Flat, Lake Ohia

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Clifton Terrace flats, Wellington

Clifton Terrace flats, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Dairy flat, Rodney County

Dairy flat, Rodney County

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Brooch "Haumoana/Birdlings Flat"

Brooch "Haumoana/Birdlings Flat"

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Seaviews II. 6. Birdlings Flat, Banks Peninsula

Seaviews II. 6. Birdlings Flat, Banks Peninsula

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: 29 Corset Studs - flat/straight

29 Corset Studs - flat/straight

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Model of proposed Phillip Street flats, 1958

Model of proposed Phillip Street flats, 1958

Auckland Libraries

Image: Interior view, state flats, The Terrace, Wellington

Interior view, state flats, The Terrace, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: View of the Dixon Street flats, Wellington

View of the Dixon Street flats, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fox Glacier, Tasman from Flat

Fox Glacier, Tasman from Flat

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Exterior view, state flats, The Terrace, Wellington

Exterior view, state flats, The Terrace, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Jerningham flats, Wellington, under construction

Jerningham flats, Wellington, under construction

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Foundations for flats in Majoribanks Street, Wellington

Foundations for flats in Majoribanks Street, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Jerningham flats, Wellington, under construction

Jerningham flats, Wellington, under construction

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Jerningham flats, Wellington, under construction

Jerningham flats, Wellington, under construction

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Cook River Flat, West Coast Region

Cook River Flat, West Coast Region

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Model of proposed self-owned flats, [Wellington?]

Model of proposed self-owned flats, [Wellington?]

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Hanging out washing, Dixon Street flats

Hanging out washing, Dixon Street flats

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fletcher Construction. Flats in Corville St

Fletcher Construction. Flats in Corville St

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Cook River Flat, Westland District

Cook River Flat, Westland District

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: MacRae's Flat, Otago, NZ

MacRae's Flat, Otago, NZ

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Hodgkins, William Mathew, 1833-1898 :Macraes Flat. [1860s?]

Hodgkins, William Mathew, 1833-1898 :Macraes Flat. [1860s?]

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Roof structure, Herbert Gardens flats, The Terrace, Wellington

Roof structure, Herbert Gardens flats, The Terrace, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Flat Point area and coastline, South Wairarapa District

Flat Point area and coastline, South Wairarapa District

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Dog sitting outside flat at former borstal building, Wellington

Dog sitting outside flat at former borstal building, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Scenes in a flat on Jervois Road, Auckland

Scenes in a flat on Jervois Road, Auckland

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Flat pasture facing western Hutt hills; Heretaunga golf course site?

Flat pasture facing western Hutt hills; Heretaunga golf course site?

Upper Hutt City Library

Image: Military camp, Tylee's Flat, Wanganui - Photographed by William James Harding

Military camp, Tylee's Flat, Wanganui - Photographed by William James Harding

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Flat bed truck belonging to Shell Company of New Zealand

Flat bed truck belonging to Shell Company of New Zealand

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Interior view with open trapdoor, state flats, The Terrace, Wellington

Interior view with open trapdoor, state flats, The Terrace, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Construction of lift tower for 11 storey Government flats on The Terrace, Wellington

Construction of lift tower for 11 storey Government flats on The Terrace, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Early morning scene at Cook River Flat, Westland County, South Westland

Early morning scene at Cook River Flat, Westland County, South Westland

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Clue 18 Do young New Zealanders really look this flat?

Clue 18 Do young New Zealanders really look this flat?

Kete Horowhenua

Image: Inside the stairwell of the newly completed Dixon Street Flats, Wellington

Inside the stairwell of the newly completed Dixon Street Flats, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: View of the Pay Creek (or Flat Stream?) railway viaduct.

View of the Pay Creek (or Flat Stream?) railway viaduct.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Two members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in their flat, Hutt Valley

Two members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in their flat, Hutt Valley

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: lnterior view, Dorset Street flats, Christchurch - Photograph taken by Martin Barriball.

lnterior view, Dorset Street flats, Christchurch - Photograph taken by Martin Barriball.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Man with a dynamo lampshade, from a series called 'men who live in a flat'

Man with a dynamo lampshade, from a series called 'men who live in a flat'

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Pascoe, John Dobree 1908-1972:Photograph of the outside view of the Dixon Street Flats, Wellington, after their completion

Pascoe, John Dobree 1908-1972:Photograph of the outside view of the Dixon Street Flats, Wellington, after their completion

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: ON THE ROAD TO iIOA FLAT: A VIEW OF THE LOADED DRAGS _ I EX ROUTE TO THE SALE. I A GROUP OF VISITORS AT MOA FLAT AFTER THE SALE. (Otago Witness, 10 May 1905)

ON THE ROAD TO iIOA FLAT: A VIEW OF THE LOADED DRAGS _ I EX ROUTE TO THE SALE. I A GROUP OF VISITORS AT MOA FLAT AFTER THE SALE. (Otago Witness, 1...

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Evening Post" Photo. TWIN BRIDGES ON THE TAWA FLAT DEVIATION.—One of the new iron bridges which have been built in the. vicinity of Glenside for the new Tawa Flat Main Trunk railway deviation. Several' bridges, of .this type, have been constructed beyond the . ' ' second tunnel. (Evening Post, 06 September 1934)

Evening Post" Photo. TWIN BRIDGES ON THE TAWA FLAT DEVIATION.—One of the new iron bridges which have been built in the. vicinity of Glenside for th...

National Library of New Zealand

Image: View of Macauley Island, a relatively flat volcanic island with steep beach cliff faces, with Hazard Island beyond, the Kermadec Islands group

View of Macauley Island, a relatively flat volcanic island with steep beach cliff faces, with Hazard Island beyond, the Kermadec Islands group

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: GENERAL, VIEW OF BARLEY AND WHEAT CROPS IN THE STOOK. ON MR P. MCCARTHY'S FARM, HAWEA FLAT. (Otago Witness, 24 February 1909)

GENERAL, VIEW OF BARLEY AND WHEAT CROPS IN THE STOOK. ON MR P. MCCARTHY'S FARM, HAWEA FLAT. (Otago Witness, 24 February 1909)

National Library of New Zealand