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Story: Children’s play

Playground games, Kaitāia, around 1910

A group of children play outside a Kaitāia school in the 1910s. While the photograph has clearly been posed, it does illustrate a number of different playground games. The boys in the front are playing a version of leapfrog. Behind them a number of boys are wrestling. Groups of girls at the back hold hands in what may be a game of 'Ring a ring o' roses'.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Northwood Collection (PA-Group-00027)

Reference: 1/2-030573-F

by Northwood Brothers

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Peter Clayworth, Children’s play – The playground and the path to school, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/40844/playground-games-kaitaia-around-1910 (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Peter Clayworth, published 13 February 2013.