Toys and Games

A DigitalNZ Story by National Library of New Zealand Topics

Discover the world of dolls, puzzles, teddy bears, marbles and indoor, online video and board games. This topic also covers the history and culture of Māori toys (karetao), and traditional and modern day pastimes of children. SCIS no. 1842264

social_sciences, technology, arts, Māori

Image: Community Events 0005

Teddy bear’s picnic

Community Events 0005

Upper Hutt City Library

Image: Toy making

Toy making

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Dinosaur Toy Stampede

Toy stampede

Dinosaur Toy Stampede

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: toy soldier

Toy soldier

toy soldier

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Tonka toys

Tonka toys

Radio New Zealand

Techie toys

Build your own techie toys for Xmas

Radio New Zealand

Traditional Māori and settler toys

Children’s play: Traditional Māori and settler children’s play

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Omakau's toy library

Omakau's toy library

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Gavin Bishop and Teddy One-Eye

Teddy One-Eye

Gavin Bishop and Teddy One-Eye

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Star Wars display

Star Wars display

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Online games

Online games

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: table, games

Table games

table, games

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Revival of traditional Māori games

Revival of traditional Maori games sought

Radio New Zealand

Cards, board games and puzzles

Cards, board games and puzzles: Māori use of games

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Playing housie, 1975

Playing housie

Playing housie, 1975

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Medieval board games

Medieval board games

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Uno, Board games day

Uno

Uno, Board games day

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Warnings over lead in toys

Lead in toys

Warnings over lead in toys

Radio New Zealand

Image: buzzy bee :)

buzzy bee :)

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Farmers' Trading Company Ltd: Buy on Farmers' easiest of terms [1952]

Farmers' Trading Company Ltd

Farmers' Trading Company Ltd: Buy on Farmers' easiest of terms [1952]

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Karetao (puppet), early 1800s

Karetao (puppet)

Karetao (puppet), early 1800s

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Fun Ho! national toy museum

Fun Ho! national toy museum

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Toy Van

Toy van

Toy Van

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Boys playing marbles, around 1900

Marbles

Boys playing marbles, around 1900

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Maori girl and boy alongside a whariki, peddle-cart and tricycle

Children with toys

Maori girl and boy alongside a whariki, peddle-cart and tricycle

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Children in playground with principal. Skipping and balls

Playground games

Children in playground with principal. Skipping and balls

NZEI Te Riu Roa (New Zealand Educational Institute)

Image: Bullrush, 2009

Bullrush

Bullrush, 2009

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Games from Fiji

Services to Schools

Superman

Services to Schools

Playtimes

Services to Schools

Choosing safe toys

Services to Schools

A toy museum

Services to Schools

Harmony Day

Services to Schools

Land of counterpane

Services to Schools

Wire car push toy

Services to Schools

Barbie doll

Services to Schools

Jump rope team

Services to Schools

Toys helping children

Services to Schools

Gender-specific toys

Services to Schools

Card games

Services to Schools

Toys and games

Services to Schools

Steadfast Tin Soldier

Services to Schools

Image: Hula hoop record broken.

Hula-hoop record broken.

Hula hoop record broken.

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Maori girls playing a string game

String games

Maori girls playing a string game

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Marbles played by boys in the form of cricket, Wellington

Playing marbles

Marbles played by boys in the form of cricket, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Japanese doll in kimono

Japanese doll

Japanese doll in kimono

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Meccano clock, probably in Wellington

Meccano clock

Meccano clock, probably in Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: 'A Buzzy Bee for Siulolovao'

A Buzzy Bee for Siulolovao

'A Buzzy Bee for Siulolovao'

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Model airplane

Model airplane

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Stokes Valley

Teddy bear

Stokes Valley

Alexander Turnbull Library

Doll

Services to Schools

Rusty toy car

Services to Schools

Marbles

Services to Schools

Pinball machine

Services to Schools

Fun and ancient games!

Services to Schools

Child's play

Services to Schools

Group games for kids

Services to Schools

Kites

Services to Schools

Toy safety

Services to Schools

EPIC

Services to Schools