The Maori Ruru (Stone) Game is one that I grew up with, although we called it Knucklebones.

In pre-European times, the Ruru game was played with stones or sometimes berries.  Europeans brought with the idea of using sheep knucklebones.  The Ruru in this pack are moulded zinc knucklebones.

The Ruru game is not only fun but also has the serious purpose of building fast reflexes and agility.  Fast reflexes and agility were important to Maori, for hunting and for defending your family/ tribe (whanau/hapu/iwi) from attackers.

Skilled players of Ruru are reported to have had as many as 15 stones to play with.

Ruru is also known as koruru, kai makamaka, ti kai, and tutukai.  It is not just one game but lots of variations of the same idea.

Teach your children to play Ruru and keep traditions alive.

With the pack comes detailed instructions on how to play Ruru, through each of its many stages and variations.  Lots of fun for young and old, a timeless game.