Holiday fun on a shoestring

Wairarapa kids have been highly strung these holidays, but in a way parents will like.

Local puppetmaster Steffen Krest and artist Tina-Rae Carter have been teaching local kids about the art of puppetry at the Aratoi Museum during the past three days.

Ms Carter said they'd had an excellent response from the children.

The young puppeteers found the puppets a little difficult to operate at first, but soon got the hang of it, she said.

"When they got their heads around it, it gave them a lift."

She said the participants tried their hands at a puppet show after learning the ins and outs.

"We made up the story as we went along.

"It's a beautiful story about bullying and all the kids developed their own characters."

The artist said she is always looking for new art forms to teach the kids.

Aratoi Museum and Creative New Zealand worked together to create the workshop.