About Playwrite NZ Guides.
Playwrite New Zealand Guides is a single-weight font designed to harmonize seamlessly with its companion, Playwrite New Zealand. This font includes guideline markers on the baseline, x-height, ascenders, and descenders, providing a visual aid for primary school children. These guides help young learners grasp the proportions of letterforms and assist them in drawing letters with confidence and accuracy.
The style of handwriting currently taught in New Zealand is specified in Teaching Handwriting, a Ministry of Education publication, which was originally developed in response to teachers’ requests for guidance on the style of handwriting that should be taught in primary school. Teachers and schools usually create their own resources for handwriting instruction based on the style advocated in this document. It was first released in 1985 and its latest iteration was released in 2025. Teaching Handwriting outlines a progressive handwriting education system that advances from simplified print script to semi-joined cursive writing.
Playwrite New Zealand was updated in 2025 in partnership with the Ministry of Education of New Zealand. It is a variable font with a weight range from Thin (100) to Regular (400), and supports over 150 Latin-based languages.
To contribute, see github.com/TypeTogether/Playwrite.
Playwrite New Zealand Guides characteristics
Guidelines are present in all characters except for those used for letter spacing. To create a versatile font for teachers designing practice sheets that feature guidelines without corresponding letters, the underscore is used as a key character. It replaces the glyph shape with the guidelines and matches the width of the letter space.
Find the detailed characteristics of this country's Model in Playwrite New Zealand.
Family name in font menus
Playwrite New Zealand appears in font menus with a two-letter country code ‘NZ’, Playwrite NZ Guides, and features a single Regular weight.
The download .zip file includes the static font for this guided version.
Playwrite fonts for schools
The Playwrite school fonts are based on the findings of Primarium, a groundbreaking educational effort that documents the history and current practice of handwriting models taught to primary school students worldwide. This typographic engine serves teachers, educators, and parents by generating localized libre fonts. These Playwrite fonts are complemented by Playpen Sans, an informal and fun typeface designed for annotations, instructions, and student notes – that also includes emojis.
For more information about the Primarium project, visit primarium.info and to learn more about handwriting education in New-Zealand, see primarium.info/countries/new-zealand.
How to install the fonts?
Windows: Download the font file to your computer. Navigate to where you saved the font file and double-click it to open. Click the "Install" button at the top of the font preview window. The font is now installed and ready to be used across your apps.
macOS: After downloading the font file to your Mac, right-click it in Finder and select "Open With" > "Font Book". Then, click "Install Font" in the font preview window that pops up. The font is now installed and ready to be used across your apps.
How to use the fonts in apps?
The Playwrite font family uses complex OpenType features to generate connected writing. Some common applications require these features to be manually activated.
Note: This font family doesn't include Bold or Italic styles, so please avoid applying them in text editors. If you use the common 'B' and 'I' buttons, you will automatically generate low-quality styles.
Google Docs and Slides: From the font selector drop-down, go to "More Fonts" and search for the desired font name, in this case, "Playwrite NZ Guides", and click OK. If some text is already selected, the font choice will apply.
Microsoft Word: Go to Format in the Menu bar, select Font, and then the Advanced tab. Activate "Contextual Alternates" and "Kerning for fonts below" to apply these settings to all text sizes.
LibreOffice: In macOS, to select the different styles, go to Format in the Menu bar, select Character, and use the Typeface menu.
Adobe InDesign: Open the Paragraph Panel and select Adobe "World-Ready Paragraph Composer" from the contextual menu.
Adobe Illustrator: Navigate to Preferences > Type, check the "Show Indic Options" box, and close preferences. Then open the Paragraph Panel and select "Middle Eastern Composer" from the contextual menu.
Adobe Photoshop: Access the Paragraph Panel, then choose "World-Ready Layout" from the contextual menu.
The above instructions are also available in PDF format here.
- Designer
- TypeTogether, Veronika Burian, José Scaglione
- Classification
- Handwriting
- Coverage
- 444 languages
- Package release
- v2
- Updated
- Apr 27, 2026
- Monthly usage
- npm92 downloads last month
- jsDelivr873 requests last month
- License
- OFL-1.1
Style and character
Visual characteristics associated with this family.
- Childlike
- Learn To Write
- Handwritten
Characters and features
What this family includes and how its files are structured.
Language and character coverage
444 languages are listed for this family.
- AfarQafar · Latin
- AchineseBahsa Acèh · Latin
- Saint Lucian Creole French, Latin
- AcoliLatin
- AfrikaansLatin
- AguarunaLatin
- Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, Latin
- Ainu (Latin)
- AlagoLatin
- AleutUnangam Tunuu · Latin
- Gheg AlbanianGegnisht · Latin
- AmahuacaLatin
- YaneshaʼLatin
- AmisLatin
- AmarakaeriLatin
- AragoneseAragonés · Latin
- Old EnglishÆnglisc (Latin) · Latin
- AnaangAnaañ · Latin
- Uab MetoUab Metô · Latin
- MapucheMapudungun · Latin
- ArapahoLatin
- Artificial languages, World (Latin)
- AsuKipare · Latin
- Ivbie North-Okpela-ArheLatin
- WaoraniLatin
- AwakLatin
- AymaraAymar · Latin
- Bashkir (Latin)
- BalineseBali · Latin
- Batak TobaLatin
- Banda, West CentralLatin
- BenchLatin
- Belarusian (Latin)
- BedawiyetLatin
- BembaChibemba · Latin
- BetawiLatin
- BenaEkibena · Latin
- BislamaLatin
- BikolPandan Bikol · Latin
- BiniẸ̀dó · Latin
- BanjarLatin
- BengaLatin
- BapukuLatin
- Brahui (Latin)
- Bodo (Latin)
- BosnianBosanski · Latin
- BangwinjiLatin
- Rinconada BikolPandan Bikol · Latin
- BokobaruLatin
- BilenLatin
- CatalanCatalà · Latin
- GarifunaLatin
- ChachiLatin
- Chavacano, Philippines (Latin)
- Cashibo-CacataiboLatin
- CashinahuaLatin
- Candoshi-ShapraLatin
- CebuanoBinisaya · Latin
- DikakaLatin
- ChigaRukiga · Latin
- ChamorroChamorru · Latin
- Chinantec, OjitlánLatin
- ChuukeseChuuk · Latin
- ChokweLatin
- Chin, HakaLatin
- AsháninkaLatin
- CorsicanCorsu · Latin
- ColoradoLatin
- Cofán, Latin
- CaquinteLatin
- Ashéninka, PichisLatin
- Crimean TurkishLatin
- SãotomenseLatin
- Seselwa Creole FrenchSeselwa · Latin
- CzechČeština · Latin
- KashubianKaszëbsczi · Latin
- Tedim ChinLatin
- KwereLatin
- WelshCymraeg · Latin
- Cuyonon (Latin)
- DanishDansk · Latin
- TaitaKidawida · Latin
- GermanDeutsch · Latin
- DelawareHuluníixsuwaakan · Latin
- C’LelaLatin
- Lower SorbianDolnoserbšćina · Latin
- Central DusunLatin
- ChidurumaLatin
- DrungLatin
- DawroLatin
- Jola-FonyiJóola-Fóoñi · Latin
- EmbuKiembu · Latin
- Efikefi · Latin
- EkpeyeLatin
- EnglishLatin
- EsperantoLatin
- SpanishEspañol · Latin
- Ese EjjaLatin
- EstonianEesti · Latin
- BasqueEuskara · Latin
- ExtremaduranLatin
- EzaaLatin
- West Albay BikolPandan Bikol · Latin
- FinnishSuomi · Latin
- FilipinoLatin
- FijianVakaviti · Latin
- Finnish, KvenLatin
- FuliiruLatin
- FaroeseFøroyskt · Latin
- GalloLatin
- FrenchFrançais · Latin
- Old FrenchLatin
- ArpitanLatin
- Northern FrisianLatin
- FriulianFurlan · Latin
- Western FrisianFrysk · Latin
- IrishGaeilge · Latin
- GagauzGagauzça · Latin
- AlekanoGahuku · Latin
- Guadeloupean Creole French, Martinique (Latin)
- Guianese Creole FrenchLatin
- Scottish GaelicGàidhlig · Latin
- ut-Ma’inLatin
- GilberteseKiribati · Latin
- Gelao, KlauLatin
- GalicianGalego · Latin
- Middle High GermanLatin
- GamoLatin
- GofaLatin
- Old High GermanLatin
- Swiss GermanSchwyzerdütsch · Latin
- WayuuWayuunaiki · Latin
- Gourmanchémagulimancema · Latin
- GusiiEkegusii · Latin
- ManxGaelg · Latin
- 'AleQale · Latin
- GyeleLatin
- GuarayuLatin
- HangaLatin
- HarariLatin
- HadiyyaHadiyyisa · Latin
- Hmong, Northern QiandongHmong (Latin) · Latin
- HiligaynonIlonggo · Latin
- Chin, MatuLatin
- Hmonghveb Hmub · Latin
- Hmong, Southern QiandongLatin
- HaniLatin
- Hmong NjuaLatin
- Hindustani, SarnamiLatin
- HopiHopilàvayi · Latin
- CroatianHrvatski · Latin
- Upper SorbianHornjoserbšćina · Latin
- Haitian CreoleKreyòl Ayisyen · Latin
- HungarianMagyar · Latin
- Huastec, San Luís PotosíLatin
- InterlinguaLatin
- IndonesianIndonesia · Latin
- Interlingue (Latin)
- EbiraLatin
- IgedeLatin
- IlokoIlokano · Latin
- IdoLatin
- IkwoLatin
- RigweLatin
- IraqwLatin
- IcelandicÍslenska · Latin
- EsanLatin
- ItalianItaliano · Latin
- IzereLatin
- HyamLatin
- Jamaican Creole EnglishJamiekan · Latin
- Lojban (Latin)lojban (Latin)
- Shuar, Ecuador (Latin)
- MachameLatin
- JavaneseJawa · Latin
- AdaraLatin
- KambaKikamba · Latin
- KalangaLatin
- KutuLatin
- MakondeChimakonde · Latin
- KabuverdianuLatin
- QʼeqchiʼLatin
- KongoKikongo · Latin
- KaingangKanhgág · Latin
- KhasiKa Ktien Khasi · Latin
- KikuyuGĩgĩkũyũ · Latin
- KuanyamaOshikwanyama · Latin
- Kazakh (Latin)
- KalaallisutLatin
- KalenjinMarkweta · Latin
- KimbunduLatin
- Mankanyamankaañ · Latin
- KonjoLatin
- SapinyLatin
- KaondeLatin
- KarelianKarjala · Latin
- ShambalaKishambaa · Latin
- ColognianKölsch · Latin
- KitubaLatin
- Kurdish (Latin)Kurmancî
- KunamaLatin
- CornishKernewek · Latin
- Latin
- Ladino (Latin)
- Lango, UgandaLatin
- LambaIchilamba · Latin
- LuxembourgishLëtzebuergesch · Latin
- Lingua Franca Nova, Latin
- GandaLuganda · Latin
- LigurianLigure · Latin
- LadinLatin
- LeleLatin
- LombardLatin
- OtuhoLatin
- LithuanianLietuviškai · Latin
- LatgalianLatgalīšu · Latin
- Luba-LuluaTshiluba · Latin
- LuvaleLatin
- LundaLatin
- LuoDholuo · Latin
- LuyiaLatin
- LatvianLatviešu · Latin
- LuwoLatin
- Matsés (Latin)
- MeruKîmîîrû · Latin
- Mauritian CreoleKreol Morisien · Latin
- Mandjakmanjak · Latin
- MalagasyLatin
- Makhuwa-MeettoImeetto · Latin
- Maorite reo Māori · Latin
- MinangkabauBaso Minangkabau · Latin
- MískitoLatin
- Mandinkamandinka · Latin
- InnuInnu Aimun · Latin
- MohawkKanien’kéha · Latin
- Maranao (Latin)
- MalteseMalti · Latin
- Mixe, TotontepecLatin
- Musi (Latin)
- MuscogeeMvskoke · Latin
- MirandeseMirandés · Latin
- ManyikaLatin
- MozarabicLatin
- MasaabaLatin
- Mazatec, IxcatlánLatin
- Mambila, NigeriaLatin
- NeapolitanNapulitano · Latin
- CahungwaryaLatin
- Norwegian Bokmålnorsk bokmål · Latin
- NyembaLatin
- North NdebeleisiNdebele · Latin
- NdauLatin
- NdambaLatin
- Low GermanNiedersächsisch · Latin
- NdongaLatin
- LomweLatin
- NguluLatin
- NiueanNiuē · Latin
- Ao NagaLatin
- DutchNederlands · Latin
- Norwegian Nynorsknynorsk · Latin
- NgindoLatin
- NorwegianNorsk · Latin
- NomatsiguengaLatin
- NovialLatin
- South NdebeleisiNdebele · Latin
- NaraLatin
- Jèrriais, Latin
- Northern SothoSepedi · Latin
- KombeLatin
- Nupe-Nupe-TakoLatin
- NyanjaChicheŵa · Latin
- NyankoleRunyankore · Latin
- NyoroLatin
- OccitanLatin
- OgbahLatin
- OkiekLatin
- OromoAfaan Oromoo · Latin
- OroqenLatin
- Otomi, MezquitalLatin
- Tenango Otomi, Latin
- ElfdalianLatin
- Old Welsh, Latin
- PampangaKapampangan · Latin
- PapiamentoPapiamentu · Latin
- Palauana tekoi er a Belau · Latin
- PáezLatin
- PicardLatin
- Paite Chin, Latin
- Nigerian PidginLatin
- PijinLatin
- Pintupi-LuritjaLatin
- PökootMarkweta · Latin
- PolishPolski · Latin
- PiedmontesePiemontèis · Latin
- Pontic (Latin)
- PohnpeianPohnpei · Latin
- Crioulo, Upper GuineaLatin
- PogoloLatin
- PipilLatin
- Old ProvençalLatin
- Ashéninka PerenéLatin
- PortuguesePortuguês · Latin
- Punuyipunu · Latin
- KʼicheʼQatzijob'al · Latin
- Kichwa, Unified QuichuaLatin
- Chimborazo Highland QuichuaRuna Simi · Latin
- Quechua, South BolivianLatin
- Quechua, AyacuchoLatin
- Quechua, CuscoRunasimi · Latin
- Quechua, Ambo-PascoLatin
- Quechua, CajamarcaLatin
- Quechua, Huamalíes-Dos de Mayo HuánucoLatin
- Quechua, Margos-Yarowilca-LauricochaLatin
- Quechua, North JunínLatin
- Quechua, Huaylas AncashLatin
- Quechua, Northern Conchucos AncashLatin
- Quechua, Arequipa-La UniónLatin
- Cook Islands MāoriMāori Kūki 'Āirani · Latin
- Rapa (Latin)
- Réunion Creole FrenchLatin
- RejangLatin
- RendilleLatin
- ResheLatin
- RomagnolLatin
- Rohingya (Latin)
- RomanshRumantsch · Latin
- RundiIkirundi · Latin
- RongaLatin
- RomanianRomână · Latin
- RomboLatin
- LuguruLatin
- AromanianArmani · Latin
- KinyarwandaLatin
- RwaLatin
- SandaweLatin
- SamburuSampur · Latin
- SasakLatin
- SanguShisango · Latin
- SardinianSardu · Latin
- ScotsScots Leid · Latin
- Sassarese SardinianSardu · Latin
- Northern SamiSámegiella · Latin
- SenaCisena · Latin
- SeriCmiique Iitom · Latin
- SecoyaLatin
- SangoSängö · Latin
- Old IrishLatin
- ShillukLatin
- Shipibo-ConiboLatin
- Arabic, Chadian SpokenLatin
- SidamoLatin
- SlovakSlovenčina · Latin
- SlovenianSlovenščina · Latin
- SalarLatin
- SamoanSāmoa · Latin
- Southern SamiÅarjelsaemiengïele · Latin
- Lule SamiJulevusámegiella · Latin
- Inari SamiAnarâškielâ · Latin
- ShonaChishona · Latin
- SomaliSoomaali · Latin
- AlbanianShqip · Latin
- Serbian (Latin)srpski (latinica, Crna Gora)
- Sranan TongoLatin
- SwatiSiswati · Latin
- SahoLatin
- Southern SothoSesotho · Latin
- Saterland FrisianLatin
- SundaneseBasa Sunda · Latin
- SukumaKisukuma · Latin
- SwedishSvenska · Latin
- SwahiliKiswahili · Latin
- Swahili, CongoLatin
- SubaLatin
- SilesianŚlůnsko godka · Latin
- Tetun DiliLatin
- TetumLia Tetun · Latin
- Tajik (Latin)
- TivLatin
- Tiwi (Latin)
- Southern TujiaLatin
- Turkmen (Latin)Türkmençe
- TakwaneLatin
- TokelauLatin
- Klingon (Latin)
- Talinga-BwisiLatin
- TswanaSetswana · Latin
- TobaLatin
- Nyasa TongaLatin
- TongaLatin
- Totonac, PapantlaLatin
- ToposaLatin
- Tok PisinLatin
- TurkishTürkçe · Latin
- TsongaXitsonga · Latin
- TsamaiLatin
- PurepechaLatin
- Tatar (Latin)
- TooroLatin
- TulaLatin
- TumbukaChitumbuka · Latin
- TedagaLatin
- TsuvadiLatin
- TuvaluTe ’gana Tūvalu · Latin
- TahitianReo Tahiti · Latin
- Tzeltal, OxchucLatin
- Tzotzil, ChamulaLatin
- Uyghur (Latin)Uighur
- UmbunduÚmbúndú · Latin
- VenetianVèneto · Latin
- VepsVepsä · Latin
- VietnameseTiếng Việt · Latin
- VidundaLatin
- MakhuwaEmakhuwa · Latin
- VolapükLatin
- VõroLatin
- VunjoLatin
- WalloonWalon · Latin
- WalserWalscher · Latin
- Wolaytta (Latin)
- WarayWaray-Waray · Latin
- WarlpiriLatin
- WendatLatin
- MwaniLatin
- WolofLatin
- XavánteA’uwẽ · Latin
- XhosaisiXhosa · Latin
- SogaLusoga · Latin
- YaochiYao · Latin
- YapeseWaab · Latin
- LokaaLatin
- YasaLatin
- YucatecoMàaya t'àan · Latin
- ZhuangLatin
- ZaghawaLatin
- Zapotec, MiahuatlánLatin
- ZayseLatin
- Comorian, NgazidjaLatin
- ZigulaLatin
- Malay (Latin)
- ZandeLatin
- ZáparoLatin
- Zapotec, GüiláLatin
- ZuluisiZulu · Latin
Styles and weights
1 weight in normal style.
Each weight is provided as a separate font file.
- Regular 400
OpenType features
Typographic behaviors that adjust character forms, spacing, and positioning. Availability can vary between files.
- Access all alternatesMakes every alternate form in the font available for selection.
aalt - Contextual alternatesChooses alternate forms that work better beside the surrounding letters.
calt - DISTApplies the font’s dist behavior during text shaping.
dist - KerningFine-tunes the space between specific pairs of characters.
kern - Mark positioningPositions combining marks relative to their base characters.
mark - Mark-to-mark positioningPositions combining marks relative to other marks.
mkmk - Stylistic set 1Activates a coordinated set of alternate character designs.
ss01 - Stylistic set 2Activates a coordinated set of alternate character designs.
ss02 - Stylistic set 3Activates a coordinated set of alternate character designs.
ss03 - Stylistic set 4Activates a coordinated set of alternate character designs.
ss04 - Stylistic set 5Activates a coordinated set of alternate character designs.
ss05 - Stylistic set 6Activates a coordinated set of alternate character designs.
ss06 - Stylistic set 7Activates a coordinated set of alternate character designs.
ss07 - Stylistic set 8Activates a coordinated set of alternate character designs.
ss08 - Stylistic set 19Activates a coordinated set of alternate character designs.
ss19 - Stylistic set 20Activates a coordinated set of alternate character designs.
ss20
License
Complete terms and attribution for this font.
Copyright 2023 The Playwrite Project Authors (https://github.com/TypeTogether/Playwrite)
Copyright 2023 The Playwrite Project Authors (https://github.com/TypeTogether/Playwrite) This Font Software is licensed under the SIL Open Font License, Version 1.1. This license is copied below, and is also available with a FAQ at: https://openfontlicense.org ----------------------------------------------------------- SIL OPEN FONT LICENSE Version 1.1 - 26 February 2007 ----------------------------------------------------------- PREAMBLE The goals of the Open Font License (OFL) are to stimulate worldwide development of collaborative font projects, to support the font creation efforts of academic and linguistic communities, and to provide a free and open framework in which fonts may be shared and improved in partnership with others. The OFL allows the licensed fonts to be used, studied, modified and redistributed freely as long as they are not sold by themselves. The fonts, including any derivative works, can be bundled, embedded, redistributed and/or sold with any software provided that any reserved names are not used by derivative works. The fonts and derivatives, however, cannot be released under any other type of license. The requirement for fonts to remain under this license does not apply to any document created using the fonts or their derivatives. DEFINITIONS "Font Software" refers to the set of files released by the Copyright Holder(s) under this license and clearly marked as such. This may include source files, build scripts and documentation. "Reserved Font Name" refers to any names specified as such after the copyright statement(s). "Original Version" refers to the collection of Font Software components as distributed by the Copyright Holder(s). "Modified Version" refers to any derivative made by adding to, deleting, or substituting -- in part or in whole -- any of the components of the Original Version, by changing formats or by porting the Font Software to a new environment. "Author" refers to any designer, engineer, programmer, technical writer or other person who contributed to the Font Software. PERMISSION & CONDITIONS Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of the Font Software, to use, study, copy, merge, embed, modify, redistribute, and sell modified and unmodified copies of the Font Software, subject to the following conditions: 1) Neither the Font Software nor any of its individual components, in Original or Modified Versions, may be sold by itself. 2) Original or Modified Versions of the Font Software may be bundled, redistributed and/or sold with any software, provided that each copy contains the above copyright notice and this license. These can be included either as stand-alone text files, human-readable headers or in the appropriate machine-readable metadata fields within text or binary files as long as those fields can be easily viewed by the user. 3) No Modified Version of the Font Software may use the Reserved Font Name(s) unless explicit written permission is granted by the corresponding Copyright Holder. This restriction only applies to the primary font name as presented to the users. 4) The name(s) of the Copyright Holder(s) or the Author(s) of the Font Software shall not be used to promote, endorse or advertise any Modified Version, except to acknowledge the contribution(s) of the Copyright Holder(s) and the Author(s) or with their explicit written permission. 5) The Font Software, modified or unmodified, in part or in whole, must be distributed entirely under this license, and must not be distributed under any other license. The requirement for fonts to remain under this license does not apply to any document created using the Font Software. TERMINATION This license becomes null and void if any of the above conditions are not met. DISCLAIMER THE FONT SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT, PATENT, TRADEMARK, OR OTHER RIGHT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE FONT SOFTWARE OR FROM OTHER DEALINGS IN THE FONT SOFTWARE.
Provenance
Where the files came from and what Fontsource distributes.
- Provider
- Google Fonts
- Source files
- 1
- Formats
- TTF
- Revision
93edb74ca9
- PlaywriteNZGuides-Regular.ttf Static · Normal · Regular 400 · Version 1.004 · 379 KB