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The karetao was one of the features of the whare tapere, the earliest form of Māori theatre. The puppeteer held the handle at the base and moved the karetao's arms by pulling a cord that passed through its shoulders. This example, carved from wood, dates from the early 1800s.
Using this item
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference: ME023983
Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.