Exploring lost art of Maori puppetry

Puppets may have been used to teach tribal history.

Reviving the lost art of karetao, or Maori puppetry, will be discussed at a Waikato University wananga on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

Professor Aroha Yates-Smith is bringing together kaumatua, carvers and artists to talk about guidelines for a revival.

Karetao are ceremonial marionettes with the body, legs and head usually carved from a single piece of wood. Arms and legs are operated by tightening and releasing cords which are tied through the back of the shoulders.

Pockets of carvers are starting to research and build the figures but there are huge gaps in knowledge about their use, Professor Yates-Smith says.

"We know they were used for instruction and entertainment but I think traditionally they were quite tapu ritualistically. I know of at least two that have been buried with whanau.

"They told stories ... I would imagine they also had a spiritual and healing quality and that's something we need to talk about with our elders."

Te Papa has some in its collection and the museum thinks karetao movements imitated haka, with their primary purpose to instruct young people in tribal history.

It also notes one account of a giant karetao being operated by an iwi who were under siege at their pa - basically so they could taunt their enemies outside the gates.

Researchers also know that the figures had a number of names including keretao, korotao, rapatahuri, repetahuri and tokoraurape.

Artist James Webster became interested in the marionettes through another passion, the revival of taonga puoro, Maori musical instruments.

He said the late Hirini Melbourne, the man credited with "awakening" those sleeping instruments, spoke of the use of taonga puoro in collaboration with the performance of karetao.