Puppets, Huffpuff birds

These brightly coloured puppets were designed to look like haughty Huffpuff birds, story book characters in The Nickle Nackle Tree by Lynley Dodd. They have a pigeon like appearance and were possibly inspired by the Kereru a native New Zealand bird. They were brought to life when the story was made into a musical production in 1996.

They are part of a collection of costumes and puppets acquired in 2012 which together represent an important musical event for New Zealand children. The show not only brings to the stage a historically significant story by an iconic New Zealand author but it showcases New Zealand costume design, choreography, music, dance and puppetry. The show was put on in Wellington and Auckland where there were sell-out shows.