Teddy bear adventures
A DigitalNZ Story by Zokoroa
Teddy bears are a delight to children of all ages as cuddle buddies. This story explores how teddytime is enjoyed around NZ in homes & libraries, at teddy bear picnics and even in outer space!
Teddy bears, Bears, Toys, Soft toys, Animals, Stuffed animals
Teddytime is enjoyed around NZ with cuddles at home and outings to teddy bear picnics, public libraries and other fun activities. And did you hear about Teddy who visited Antarctica and 'Space Teddy' who flew sky-high in a weather balloon!? Teddy bears were also placed in windows for children to spot during the coronavirus lockdown in NZ. Read on!
COME AND MEET MY TEDDY
Teddy One-Eye
Christchurch City Libraries
Care bear exhibition
Christchurch City Libraries
Teddy bears love to cuddle & be cuddled!
Bolam, Children
Puke Ariki
Frankley Kindergarten, Children
Puke Ariki
WHEN ONE TEDDY BEAR ISN'T ENOUGH FOR A CUDDLE!
Did you know that arctophilia (from the Greek arktos meaning bear and philos meaning love) is the art of teddy bear collecting!
The Timaru Herald Image: Luke Thomas 2010:10:08 03:22:16
UC QuakeStudies
Elva Norton
MTG Hawke's Bay
Hazel and Briana O'Brien and Pam Hurly; centenary of first Teddy bear.
Upper Hutt City Library
How did we get The name 'Teddy'?
President Theodore Roosevelt got his 'Teddy' nickname by cartoonist Clifford Berryman in 1902
Roosevelt had refused to shoot a captured bear during a hunting trip.
Radio New Zealand
'Teddy bear' is believed to be named after Roosevelt
Toymakers Morris & Rose Michum (U.S.) were inspired by cartoon to make toy bears.
Auckland Libraries
Teddy bears started arriving in NZ
Teddy bears were imported into NZ from Germany
Richard Steiff exhibited at Leipiz Toy Fair (1903) & St Louis World's Fair (1904) where he won the gold medal.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Popularity of teddy bears soared
National Library of New Zealand
Manufactured in NZ from 1918
NZ started making teddy bears in 1918 when German supplies ceased during WWI. Dominion Toy Manufacturing Co (Wellington) began making teddy bears as freight costs from other countries were too high.
Dominion Toy Manufacturing Co in Wellington began making teddy bears, 1918
National Library of New Zealand
Mohair teddy bears listed in Farmers' catalogue, 1952
Alexander Turnbull Library
Teddy bears enjoy going on adventures!
Teddy bears loves wheels!
Sitting in an Indian motorcycle sidecar in 1916-1918.
Ruby and Nan Welch sit in a sidecar : digital image
Wairarapa Archive
All together in a wheelbarrow, 1996
1996 Howard & Mark The Professionals Summer Programme 005; teddy bears' picnic?
Upper Hutt City Library
Astride a motorbike, 2000-2003
Photographs of miscellaneous festive events, Greymouth
Alexander Turnbull Library
TEDDY BEARS LOVE PICNICS - OUTDOORS & INDOORS!
Children at a teddy bears' picnic, Dunedin, 2005
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Tea time, Teddy bear sleepover
Christchurch City Libraries
Teddy bears' picnic, 2000; general scene
Upper Hutt City Library
Teddy bears' picnic, 2001; Claudia Worrall, 2.
Upper Hutt City Library
Teddy bears’ picnic, 2000; Brent Duffy with daughters Jessica and Sara.
Upper Hutt City Library
Let's try climbing!
Teddy goes to antarCtica!
2014-15: Teddy bear signed by NZ school children visits Antarctica
Teddy goes to Antarctica
Antarctica New Zealand
Teddy goes to Antarctica
Antarctica New Zealand
Teddy goes to Antarctica
Antarctica New Zealand
Teddy goes to Antarctica
Antarctica New Zealand
Blast off with Space Teddy!
Also see NZ Herald article (12 Dec 2017) which describes Space Teddy making it back to Earth after a 21km-high space flight.
Auckland's Forrest Hill Prim. School sent 'Space Teddy' in helium-filled weather balloon that rose 27,432m in Nov 2016.
Blast off! Auckland school sends teddy bear into space
TV3
After trekking 5500m up Mt Everest in July 2017, 'Space Teddy' was relaunched in Dec & reached 20,000m.
Teddy bear launched into stratosphere
TV3
Teddy bears have lots of fun in libraries!
Teddy bear storytime during sleepover at Shirley Library.
Storytime tent, Teddy bear sleepover
Christchurch City Libraries
Computer bear
Christchurch City Libraries
Bear on kids computer
Christchurch City Libraries
Photocopier fun, Teddy bear sleepover
Christchurch City Libraries
Teddy wants a book
Christchurch City Libraries
Book trolley joyride, Teddy bear sleepover
Christchurch City Libraries
Brownie bear rides the returns slot, Teddy bear sleepover
Christchurch City Libraries
Brownie at the returns slot, Teddy bear sleepover
Christchurch City Libraries
Brownie at the returns slot, Teddy bear sleepover
Christchurch City Libraries
All tucked in in a returns bin, Teddy bear sleepover
Christchurch City Libraries
Susan reads "The midnight library", Teddy bear sleepover
Christchurch City Libraries
Child reading with teddy bear 2
Christchurch City Libraries
TEDDies like dressing up - What shall I wear today?
Pink is our favourite colour!
Upper Hutt City Library
Teddy bears love photos!
LOVABLE TEDDY BEARS: THEN AND NOW
Coronavirus lockdown - Teddy bears in windows, 2020
Teddy bears have been placed in their street-facing windows in NZ and overseas during the Covid-19 lockdown which began in March 2020. Inspired by the popular children’s book "We’re Going on a Bear Hunt" by Michael Rosen, children "hunt" for bears in their neighbourhood during their exercise outings. See TV One news Youtube video: Teddy bears popping up in windows across NZ (30 March 2020).
Teddy Bear at Community Resource Centre, Katikati during Covid-19 lockdown
Western Bay District Council
Bear hunt Facebook post
Palmerston North City Library
Felicity Brice pictured with her 'Bear Hunt' teddies, Timaru
South Canterbury Museum
Covid-19 lockdown: Look out for bears in windows as you walk
Radio New Zealand
Teddy Bear hunt during level 4
Palmerston North City Library
Teddy bears in windows to cheer up kids during lockdown
Radio New Zealand
You can Read and listen to Teddy Bear stories!
Big Ted reading
Christchurch City Libraries
Teddy reads a story in the sun, Lyttelton Library
Christchurch City Libraries
Story time with big ted
Christchurch City Libraries
'Now T stands for teddy'
Auckland Libraries
Author Gavin Bishop and his book 'Teddy One-Eye".
Gavin Bishop with Teddy One-Eye
Christchurch City Libraries
Tim's teddy Toby is so old & battered with affection that he wins the school competition for best loved bear.
The Best Loved Bear by Dianna Noonan
Radio New Zealand
"Winne-the-Pooh" by A. A. Milne was published in 1926.
Winnie the Pooh in Greerton (Christmas 2002)
Tauranga City Libraries
"A bear called Paddington" by Michael Bond was published in 1958.
Michael Bond: Paddington at 50
Radio New Zealand