Tantrix
Mike McManaway
The game comprises 56 hexagonal tiles which have on them different-coloured lines and curves that must be laid, according to the game's rules…
From the book
Category · 12 inventions
Sport & Recreation
Bungy, jetboats, the Zorb and the Springfree trampoline — Kiwis at play, exported worldwide.
Agriculture & Farming
Sport & Recreation
Medicine & Health
Engineering & Technology
Food & Household
Science & Mathematics
Social & Cultural
Maritime & Transport
Iconic
Bungy Jumping
A.J. Hackett & Henry van Ash
The idea of jumping off things is not a new one, nor is the idea of stopping oneself before one gets hurt. Again, like many inventions, it's not…
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Jogging
Arthur Lydiard
Arthur Lydiard (b. 1917, d. 2004) was an Auckland shoemaker, and in 1945 he decided to design a personal programme to keep himself fit. Nine years…
From the book
Kitemaker
Peter Lynn
Peter Lynn (b. 1946) is a man somewhat obsessed with kites – a strange occupation but as a world renowned kite designer, Peter has managed to make a…
From the book
Shweeb
Geoff Barnett
Geoff Barnett conceived of the system in the urban jungle that is Tokyo in 2008, and has installed a working 'concept system' into the Agroventures…
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Springfree trampoline
Keith Alexander
Alexander started designing the Springfree Trampoline way back in 1987 when his wife didn't want to get a trampoline due to the danger of snapping…
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Yike Bike
Grant Ryan
Ryan set about inventing the Yike Bike very purposefully. He had already been part of four 'startups' and by this fifth one he knew what he was…
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Ski Plane
Harry Wigley
Henry Rodolph Wigley (b. 1913, d. 1980) continued the kiwi tradition of being first with an aviation exploit and then having the world largely ignore…
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Mountain Buggy
Allan Croad
True to the name, at first they were bought mainly by people in rural areas and other runners, but they soon caught on with the urbanites who began…
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Blunt Umbrella
Greig Brebner
Emerson said that if you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door. If you therefore build a better umbrella, can you expect…
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Quadski
Alan Gibbs
It’s a quad bike that goes on the water, and it’s a jetski that goes on land. Finally – a solution to the age-old problem of how to annoy people on…
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Zorb
David and Andrew Akers
The Zorb – a device designed to induce vomiting in adults with too much money. Brothers David and Andrew Akers didn’t invent the idea of putting…
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12 of 202 stories
The whole No.8 wire story is in the book.
Every invention here — and 190 more — told in full, with the people and the laughs, in No.8 Re-Wired by David Downs & Jon Bridges.