Buzzy Bee
Template:Short description Template:Use New Zealand English Template:Use dmy dates
The Buzzy Bee is a popular toy in New Zealand. It resembles a bee with rotating wings that move and make a clicking noise while the toy is pulled along the ground. Possibly based on another earlier concept,<ref name="NZ_Herald_9661">Template:Cite news</ref> it was designed and first produced in Newton, Auckland, in the 1930s, by Maurice Schlesinger.<ref>Williams, Tony (2007). 101 Incredible Kiwis: How New Zealanders Lead the World. Auckland: Reed Publishing.</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It became popular during the post-war baby boom.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Its bright colours and clicking sound call are familiar to many New Zealanders, making it one of the most well-recognised items of Kiwiana. Since this time however, the Buzzy Bee has branched out into various merchandise including books, puzzles and clothing.
PromotionEdit
The Buzzy Bee received significant coverage during the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1983 with their infant son, Prince William, who played with a Buzzy Bee on the lawn of Government House.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
.jpg){kind=link}
As an iconic New Zealand symbol, the Buzzy Bee caricature was used on the keel of NZL84, one of Emirates Team New Zealand's entrant yachts for the America's Cup held in Valencia, Spain, in 2007.Template:Citation needed
AdaptationsEdit
In June 2007, plans were unveiled for a Buzzy Bee stage show "Buzzy Bee's Big Day Out". The company behind the show also revealed that they had made an animated show reel and were finalising details of a distribution deal, and that they hoped to begin work on an animated series for television.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
An animated TV show, Buzzy Bee and Friends, premiered on TV2 in 2009;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 52 episodes were produced.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>