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Kōrero: Children’s play

Devonport School playground, around 1910

This is the playground at Devonport School, a public primary school, around 1910. The playground is segregated, with a wooden fence separating the boys' playground from the smaller girls' area (behind the flagpole on the right). The boys were probably given a larger area as they were expected to play more active games. The lack of play equipment in both areas is notable. 

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library, William Archer Price Collection (PAColl-3057)

Reference: 1/2-000892-G

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/40834/devonport-school-playground-around-1910 (accessed 24 June 2026).

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