Book Launch: The Cost of Living by Ross Webb

Join Otago University Press and Unity Books to celebrate the launch of Ross Webb’s new book, The Cost of Living: Union Politics and Economic Crisis in New Zealand, 1975–87. Step back into a turbulent period in New Zealand’s history, when soaring inflation, wage battles and falling living standards placed enormous pressure on workers, unions and the wider economy. In The Cost of Living, historian Ross Webb examines the power struggles and political conflicts surrounding the Federation of Labour, revealing how economic change shaped the lives of working people and the politics of the era. The book also offers a fascinating historical lens through which to consider contemporary debates around workers’ rights, inequality and economic policy. Come along to meet Ross Webb, hear about the research behind the book and celebrate its launch with Otago University Press and Unity Books. About Ross Webb Ross Webb is a historian based in Lower Hutt. He holds a PhD in History from Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington and is co-author of Te Hau Kāinga: The Māori Home Front During the Second World War (Auckland University Press, 2024).