The World of Playing Cards Logo
Published September 30, 2022 Updated September 30, 2022

Maori playing cards

Maori playing cards from New Zealand.

New Zealand Hanan Enterprises Otago University Printery Ethnic & Indigenous Maori Add to Collection

This undated pack was produced by Hanan Enterprises, Dunedin and was printed by Otago University Printery. It consists of 56 cards including 2 jokers and 2 extra cards giving the Maori names of the four suits, and a separate printed legend.

The suits approximate to the standard, but at the same time are intended to replicate elements of Maori art. The clubs resemble the Maori short club or kotiate; the hearts find echo in the rhythmic koru design used by Maori carvers; the spades resemble ornate short paddles; the diamonds replicate weaving patterns. The position of these pips is non-standard.

The court cards are un-named but show their wearers in authentic Maori clothing (e.g. dog skin, feathered cloaks) and they hold weapons or symbols of the period. The two jokers are sailors in the costume of the period of captain Cook.

The accompanying legend explains the suits and courts in greater detail, together with a little information about Maori history and culture. See the legend

Maori playing cards produced by Hanan Enterprises, Dunedin, New Zealand Maori playing cards produced by Hanan Enterprises, Dunedin, New Zealand Maori playing cards produced by Hanan Enterprises, Dunedin, New Zealand

Above: Maori playing cards produced by Hanan Enterprises, Dunedin, New Zealand. 52 cards + 2 jokers + 2 extra cards.

avatar
503 Articles

By Peter Burnett

Member since July 27, 2022

I graduated in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University in 1969. It was as an undergraduate in Moscow in 1968 that I stumbled upon my first 3 packs of “unusual” playing cards which fired my curiosity and thence my life-long interest. I began researching and collecting cards in the early 1970s, since when I’ve acquired over 3,330 packs of non-standard cards, mainly from North America, UK and Western Europe, and of course from Russia and the former communist countries.

Russian Playing Cards

Following my retirement from the Bodleian Library in Dec. 2007 I took up a new role as Head of Library Development at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to support library development in low-income countries. This work necessitated regular training visits to many sub-Saharan African countries and also further afield, to Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh – all of which provided rich opportunities to further expand my playing card collection.

Since 2019 I’ve been working part-time in the Bodleian Library where I’ve been cataloguing the bequest of the late Donald Welsh, founder of the English Playing Card Society.


Related Articles

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.

Whatever you’re up to, stay safe

Whatever you’re up to, stay safe

Safety advice playing cards by New Zealand Police and the Wellington City Council.

Le jeu des 7 Familles ’Utuafare

Le jeu des 7 Familles ’Utuafare

Colourful Happy Families game from Tahiti depicting costumes from different archipelagoes.

Mohegan Sun playing cards

Mohegan Sun playing cards

Mohegan Sun playing cards published by Gemaco for Mohegan Sun casino.

1820 Heathen Wars

Heathen Wars

German-suited ‘Heathen War’ playing cards published by Joseph Fetscher, Munich, c.1820.

2019 Pendleton playing cards

Pendleton playing cards

Pendleton playing cards inspired by indigenous American artwork, USA, 2019.

1986 Clamcleats playing cards

Clamcleats playing cards

Clamcleats playing cards for sailors designed by Celia Allison, New Zealand, 1986.

2015 Malam playing cards

Malam playing cards

Malam playing cards created by Michael Muldoon, USA, 2015.

1820 Costumes des Peuples Étrangers

Costumes des Peuples Étrangers

Costumes des Peuples Étrangers & Jeu d’Or dedicated to young people and likely used for games and fo...

1995 Race Card

Race Card

‘Race Card’ playing cards published by the Concept Card Co., New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

2015 Hawaiian playing cards

Hawaiian playing cards

Hawaiian playing cards in the style of classic Hawaiian wood carvings, USA, 2015.

1860 South American Costumes

South American Costumes

Costumes of people of Brazil, Peru and Mexico, with views of Rio de Janeiro on the aces.

1980 Seven Seas Maori Playing Cards

Seven Seas Maori Playing Cards

A Gift from New Zealand

1994 African art playing cards

African art playing cards

African art and symbolism on playing cards designed by John J. Beckvermit III, USA, 1994.

1992 Pacific Northwest native Indian masks

Pacific Northwest native Indian masks

Pacific Northwest native Indian masks with artwork by Margaret Parrott, USA, 1992.

1980 Ethiopian playing cards

Ethiopian playing cards

A pack with court cards reflecting different ethnic and cultural groups found in Ethiopia.

1983 Jeu de Cartes de Tahiti

Jeu de Cartes de Tahiti

Courts and Aces inspired by Polynesian history and culture designed by Michèle Feltrin.

2015 Nipponia Playing Cards

Nipponia Playing Cards

Nipponia Playing Cards are a Japanese-themed playing cards featuring samurai, kunoichi and oiran. De...

Maori playing cards

Maori playing cards

Maori playing cards from New Zealand.

1985 Scenic Views of New Zealand

Scenic Views of New Zealand

A ‘Rangitira’ souvenir showing 52 different scenic views of the North and South Islands of New Zeala...

1984 The Times of Kamehameha The Great

The Times of Kamehameha The Great

Figures from Hawaiian history and scenes of everyday life designed by Joseph Feher.

2012 Africa playing cards

Africa playing cards

According to the United Nations there are 54 countries on the continent of Africa

Drum playing cards

Drum playing cards

Drum playing cards depicting demographically diverse Africans of different ethnicities.

2000 African Renaissance Deck

African Renaissance Deck

African Renaissance Deck published for Nkosi's Haven, South Africa, 2000.

Traditional Nomadic Life of Mongolia

Traditional Nomadic Life of Mongolia

Playing cards depicting paintings of Traditional Nomadic Life of Mongolia.

1980 Playing cards from Suriname

Playing cards from Suriname

Playing cards reflecting the history and culture of Suriname, on the northeastern coast of South Ame...

1970 Karata playing cards

Karata playing cards

Karata playing cards produced in Nairobi, c. 1970.

Tanisa cartes à jouer

Tanisa cartes à jouer

“Tanisa cartes à jouer” published by Colormad, Madagascar.

1997 Habesha playing cards

Habesha playing cards

Habesha playing cards published by “Ethiopian Reflection”

2001 Hotel Lena

Hotel Lena

Hotel Lena playing cards published by Bichik in Yakutsk in 2001.

2012 Juego de Naipes Andalusí

Juego de Naipes Andalusí

Andalusian playing cards designed by Marifé Montoya Carrillo with booklet by Jorge Lirola Delgado, 2...

Inka Naipe Souvenir

Inka Naipe Souvenir

54 colour photographs of costumes and artefacts connected with the Inca civilisation, unknown publis...

2000 San Playing Cards

San Playing Cards

Rock paintings and engravings of the San people, better known as the “Bushmen”.

2000 Martinique

Martinique

Original designs from the French overseas department of Martinique by local artist Martine Porry.

Happy Playing Cards

Happy Playing Cards

Cheerful, colourful designs on handmade paper from Nepal.

2005 Estonian Ethnographic Playing Cards

Estonian Ethnographic Playing Cards

Estonian national costumes and everyday items feature on this pack made in Estonia.

2002 Ganjifa™

Ganjifa™

A colourful pack of round cards with Ganjifa designs by Asha Industries, Mumbai, India, 2002.

Playing Cards from Mauritius

Playing Cards from Mauritius

Pack designed for La Maison de L’Artisanat Ltée, Mauritius, by Hervé de Cotter.

2000 Handmade playing cards

Handmade playing cards

Non-standard designs on Nepalese handmade paper for Pilgrims Book House, Kathmandu, Nepal, c.2000.

2005 Korchma Taras Bulba

Korchma Taras Bulba

The first of two decks designed by Ukrainian illustrator Vladislav Erko for “Korchma Taras Bulba” re...

1962 Folk Cards

Folk Cards

Folk Cards designed by Krystyna Gruchalska-Bunsch for Lot Polish Airlines, 1962.