Story: Cards, board games and puzzles

Warning to Māori about playing cards, 1878

Warning to Māori about playing cards, 1878

'Kia Kaua ratou e purei Kaari ... ana eke ratou i te Rerewei' ('You are forbidden to play cards ... while on Railway property') warns this notice in an 1878 issue of the Māori-language newspaper Te Wananga. Passengers are warned against playing cards on the Napier–Waipukurau line, and reminded that this is illegal under Rule 31 of the railway regulations. The regulation, and this public notice, suggests that card playing was widespread among both Māori and Pākehā, and that authorities were concerned to limit it – perhaps to avoid disorder and gambling.

Using this item

Niupepa: Maori newspapers
Reference: Te Wananga, 9 Pepuere 1878

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Mark Derby, 'Cards, board games and puzzles - Gambling games', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/document/38908/warning-to-maori-about-playing-cards-1878 (accessed 19 May 2024)

Story by Mark Derby, published 5 Sep 2013