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Kōrero: Children’s play

Boys playing in the river, Dunedin, 1894

A group of boys play in the Water of Leith, Woodhaugh Gardens, Dunedin, in 1894. In the early years of Pākehā settlement older children were often expected to work, with school only becoming compulsory in 1877. As most adults took only a limited interest in children's play, youngsters made their own fun when they escaped from adult supervision. The outdoors provided many opportunities for adventure, entertainment and mischief. 

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library, E. R. Williams Collection

Reference: 1/2-140627-G

by William Williams

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.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Peter Clayworth, Children’s play – Traditional Māori and settler children’s play, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/zoomify/40832/boys-playing-in-the-river-dunedin-1894 (accessed 25 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Peter Clayworth, i tāngia i te 13 February 2013.