Signifier of Kiwi Identity
Contested myths of origin surround one of New Zealand’s best-loved cultural icons, or ‘kiwiana’: a pull-along children’s toy called the Buzzy Bee. This paper clarifies those domains by presenting new information gleaned from Betty Schlesinger, widow of the bee’s inventor. Clarification is important...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
UTS ePRESS
2019-12-01
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| Series: | Public History Review |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://10.44.0.193:8080/index.php/phrj/article/view/6485 |
| _version_ | 1828923454886248448 |
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| author | Lindsay Neill Marilyn Waring |
| author_facet | Lindsay Neill Marilyn Waring |
| author_sort | Lindsay Neill |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Contested myths of origin surround one of New Zealand’s best-loved cultural icons, or ‘kiwiana’: a pull-along children’s toy called the Buzzy Bee. This paper clarifies those domains by presenting new information gleaned from Betty Schlesinger, widow of the bee’s inventor. Clarification is important because the Buzzy Bee is, as kiwiana, a material item strongly associated with Kiwi identity. As a Māori word, ‘Kiwi’ is a common, often self-ascribed, term identifying people from Aotearoa New Zealand. In clarifying the Buzzy Bee’s history, this paper adds new information to the knowledge base of what it means to be Kiwi. That knowledge base is enhanced, because this paper notes that the Buzzy Bee was invented and first manufactured here in New Zealand by Betty Schlesinger’s husband Maurice Schlesinger. Betty Schlesinger’s account contrasts more popular and well-known origin myths that have served to cloud the Bee’s definitive history. In clarifying the Buzzy Bee’s genesis using Betty Schlesinger’s narrative, this paper also emphasises the important link between identity, materiality and national identity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T22:38:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-056cf4be1e284a4f9206ec3198c22d05 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1833-4989 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T22:38:22Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | UTS ePRESS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Public History Review |
| spelling | doaj.art-056cf4be1e284a4f9206ec3198c22d052022-12-21T23:28:54ZengUTS ePRESSPublic History Review1833-49892019-12-012610.5130/phrj.v26i0.6485Signifier of Kiwi IdentityLindsay Neill0Marilyn WaringAUT University Auckland NZContested myths of origin surround one of New Zealand’s best-loved cultural icons, or ‘kiwiana’: a pull-along children’s toy called the Buzzy Bee. This paper clarifies those domains by presenting new information gleaned from Betty Schlesinger, widow of the bee’s inventor. Clarification is important because the Buzzy Bee is, as kiwiana, a material item strongly associated with Kiwi identity. As a Māori word, ‘Kiwi’ is a common, often self-ascribed, term identifying people from Aotearoa New Zealand. In clarifying the Buzzy Bee’s history, this paper adds new information to the knowledge base of what it means to be Kiwi. That knowledge base is enhanced, because this paper notes that the Buzzy Bee was invented and first manufactured here in New Zealand by Betty Schlesinger’s husband Maurice Schlesinger. Betty Schlesinger’s account contrasts more popular and well-known origin myths that have served to cloud the Bee’s definitive history. In clarifying the Buzzy Bee’s genesis using Betty Schlesinger’s narrative, this paper also emphasises the important link between identity, materiality and national identity.http://10.44.0.193:8080/index.php/phrj/article/view/6485Kiwi identityKiwikiwianaSchlesingerBuzzy BeeNew Zealand |
| spellingShingle | Lindsay Neill Marilyn Waring Signifier of Kiwi Identity Public History Review Kiwi identity Kiwi kiwiana Schlesinger Buzzy Bee New Zealand |
| title | Signifier of Kiwi Identity |
| title_full | Signifier of Kiwi Identity |
| title_fullStr | Signifier of Kiwi Identity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Signifier of Kiwi Identity |
| title_short | Signifier of Kiwi Identity |
| title_sort | signifier of kiwi identity |
| topic | Kiwi identity Kiwi kiwiana Schlesinger Buzzy Bee New Zealand |
| url | http://10.44.0.193:8080/index.php/phrj/article/view/6485 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lindsayneill signifierofkiwiidentity AT marilynwaring signifierofkiwiidentity |