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Overview
The popularity of Star Wars and the availability of toys relating to the films have continued well into the 21st century. Toys that are pretend weapons like this one have been used by children in war games for many centuries and represent a commonly shared experience. Lightsabers are a more recent invention but children also play fighting games with swords and guns.
This lightsaber has been broken and repaired many times. The owner, 3 year old Mikaere Haumaha, particularly enjoys pulling toys apart and is renowned for playing rough with his things, a characteristic and element of play shared by many children.
The toy is part of a group of objects collected to represent some of the key moments and everyday life of three year old Mikaere, who is a participant in Te Papa's collecting contemporary New Zealand childhood project. This is an ongoing project that includes children in the University of Auckland's Growing Up in New Zealand research.