Whanganui man Nygllhuw Morris has set a Guinness World Record for the largest collection of Catan items, with 1547. Photo / Fin Ocheduszko Brown
Whanganui man Nygllhuw Morris has set a Guinness World Record for the largest collection of Catan items, with 1547. Photo / Fin Ocheduszko Brown
Whanganui man Nygllhuw Morris’ Catan collection worth six figures is now a Guinness World Record for the largest collection in the world.
Morris’ 1547 collectables for the board game Catan is now displayed in the 2026 edition of the Guinness World Record book, released in September.
Catan is a boardgame created in 1995 by German-designer Klaus Teuber that tests players’ strategy by settling an island, building roads, settlements, and cities to earn victory points.
Morris owns Kiwiwebs software company and Animal Register Ltd in Whanganui.
He was contacted in March by talent researcher Charlie Anderson to see if he’d like to put forward an application for the largest collection.
Once he had listed each item and sent video proof of his “mini museum”, Guinness World Records approved his application and he was officially a record-holder.
“It was not something I expected, but I’m really chuffed,” Morris said.
“It’s cool, it doesn’t change how I feel how about the game, it doesn’t change my desire about what I want to collect but it is a cool additional item to add on the list.
“Never once, until Guinness World Records contacted me, had I thought ‘I’m going for a Guinness World Record’ - I didn’t actually believe the email when it was first sent to me.”
Morris currently boasts over 1800 Catan collectable items. Photo / Fin Ocheduszko Brown
Morris’ love for the game sparked in 2001 when friends invited him and his wife over to play.
Not long after that experience, he purchased his first Catan set; the 3rd edition set of “The Settlers of Catan” with the “Cities and Knights” expansion.
It wasn’t until 2017 that he began actively collecting.
He also wanted to have something to do to unwind from work, which was particularly busy around that time.
He currently has more than 1800 Catan collectable items amounting to an estimated “low six-figures” worth - 300 more items than when his record was set in March.
Morris was sent a congratulations message from the Catan GmBH chief executive and game designer Benjamin Teuber.
“As Catan celebrates its 30th anniversary, millions of loyal players around the world continue to support the game. Among them, some truly stand out — like Nygllhuw, with his incredible collection,“ he wrote.
“News of it has reached us all the way from New Zealand back here in Germany. Congratulations on your world record.”
Morris’ favourite set is the 3D 10th Anniversary Collectors Edition set that he bought in 2006.
