On 15 May 1940 the world’s first McDonald’s restaurant was opened in San Bernadino, California, by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald. The restaurant originally had 25 menu items and used ‘carhops’ to serve customers in their vehicles. Later in the decade the brothers reorganised their business as a hamburger stand using production line principles. The company was franchised in the 1950s, and went on to quickly spread throughout the United States and the rest of the world. Today the restaurant chain has more than 36,000 outlets in 119 countries and is one of the most recognisable brands on the planet.

In June 1976 the first McDonald’s restaurant opened in New Zealand, in Porirua near Wellington. However, there had been some hesitancy when the idea was proposed by two New Zealand businessmen about expanding the franchise to New Zealand, owing to the small local population. The brothers then negotiated a deal with the corporation by selling New Zealand cheese to the US to offset the high costs of importing plant equipment. The Porirua franchise was much more successful than the corporation predicted, and today there are approximately 167 outlets in New Zealand.

This photograph of the first Porirua McDonald’s Restaurant was taken by P. Martin in September 1976, and comes from the collection of National Publicity studios.

Archives reference: AAQT 6539 W3537 166/ B10817 www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=24814153

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