Story: Picnics and barbecues

Government Printing Office annual picnic, 1921 (3rd of 4)

This photo album shows scenes from the Government Printing Office picnic of 1921. Businesses, government departments, employers' organisations and trade unions all organised annual picnics based around particular workplaces or trades. The photos show some of the activities at such picnics. These included tug-of-war, running races and apple-eating competitions (where the apples hang from strings and competitors cannot use their hands). Other common picnic sports and games included sack races, three-legged races, 'thread the needle' races, games such as apple bobbing and 'kiss in the ring', nail-driving competitions and guessing the weight of sheep.

Using this item

Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Reference: AAUR W3549 Box 101 P43

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Peter Clayworth, 'Picnics and barbecues - Family and community picnics, 1800s to 1920s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/39289/government-printing-office-annual-picnic-1921 (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Peter Clayworth, published 5 Sep 2013