Tales from Te Papa - Play School Toys

There were five of us, but now there are only four. "Are you sure?" said Jemima. "Oh yes" said Humpty...

– Play School presenter Barry Dorking stumbles on the mystery about Little Ted

I think the toys had a bit of a rough time. They worked hard for their money on this show. Humpty, for example, had to be replaced every two years...

– Te Papa curator Kirstie Ross on the realities of being a Play School star

For Manu we do have a piupiu and a feather cloak as well; because she's a Māori doll she would wear those for special events. And Manu was what made New Zealand's Play School quite special.

– Curator Kirstie Ross describes Play School star Manu, Radio New Zealand website, 20 March 2018

They never quite did what you wanted them to do. You'd be putting them in the boat, because you were going boating, and one would fall over.

– Play School presenter Theresa Healey on working with the show's stars, Radio New Zealand website, 20 March 2018

We were getting away from the British, [it was] about being a New Zealand voice. Because in the show, it always used to make me laugh ... if we were talking about rivers we'd go to the Thames...And it was like — we've got so many amazing things here, why aren't we using New Zealand stuff?"

– Former Play School presenter Theresa Healey on making Play School more Kiwi, Radio New Zealand website, 20 March 2018