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Story: Traditional Māori games – ngā tākaro

A game of mū tōrere

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A game of mū tōrere

Here, a game of mū tōrere is in progress. Controversy remains over whether Māori adapted it from the European game of draughts, or whether it pre-dates European contact.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: Elsdon Best, Games and pastimes of the Maori. Wellington: Government Printer, 1925

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Ross Calman, Traditional Māori games – ngā tākaro – Games of skill with words and hands, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/39355/a-game-of-mu-torere (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Ross Calman, published 30 November 2012.