Humpty Dumpty gets Maori makeover

Humpty Dumpty became a cult favourite on Play School

Classic 1960s children's series Play School is to be re-versioned into the Maori language.

The series that introduced British children to Big and Little Ted, Hamble, Jemima and Humpty Dumpty, will be recreated for a Maori audience.

Some 260 half-hour episodes will be made for Maori Television, with the first 20 shows completed by August.

Humpty Dumpty becomes Hamuti Tamuti, in the new Maori version while Big Ted and Little Ted become Pea nui and Pea paku.

MAORI PLAY SCHOOL Nei te whare - Here is the house Te kuaha - Here is the door Me nga wini huhua - and its many windows Patoto - Knock Kia tomo - and enter

"Play School will capture the minds and hearts of a new generation of early childhood learners, and become a sought-after learning tool for all Maori-speaking pre-schoolers," said a spokeswoman for the New Zealand company Maui Productions, which struck the deal with BBC Worldwide.

The pre-school series, which ran from 1964 to 1988, will retain its most memorable elements, including the clock, the windows - circle, square and arched - and the theme song.

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