GAMES THE MAORIS PLAYED

Te Ao Hou, October 1958, Page 54

GAMES THE MAORIS PLAYED By A. W. Reed. Illustrated by Dennis Knight Turner, A. H. and A. W. Reed, Wellington, 1958. Price 6/-. Once more A. H. & A. W. Reed come to the fore with an excellent little production. This book describing ancient Maori games is profusely illustrated with first class drawings, the artist, Dennis Turner, capturing a sound likeness to the Maori right through. Very wisely the author points out that, there being no shops, the Maori children had to make their own toys, and suggests that today's children might like to do the same. Games dealt with are kites, throwing sticks, darts, the Maori haka and poi dances, running punipuni and other games of skill. Instructions are given for the playing of mu torere (sometimes called Maori draughts), whai, bush games, hoops, purerehua, potaka, stilts and games played in the water. This ‘book would make an inexpensive and much appreciated gift. I might say, however, that the price gives no indication as to the value of the book. It has a hard cover and a very well illustrated jacket, showing five tekoteko, one flying a kite, another twirling a Bull-Roarer, one doing whai, one whipping a top and the last walking on stilts. Unfortunately, a mis-spelt version of Manurere has been used in place a E Papa Waiari. However, the remainder of the book is of such excellence that little is lost by this small mistake. Hemi Bennett.