Jeffrey Addison (Ngai Tahu) and Whaitaima Te Whare (Ngati Tuwharetoa) are a dynamic performance duo who have created and toured fifteen original puppet shows since 1995, when they founded Toro Pikopiko Puppets.
Since then, they have built up over 25 years’ experience creating radio and television programmes for children, and touring their acclaimed bilingual puppet shows nationally and internationally.
The Toro Pikopiko Tales Roadshow aims to bring the magic and joy of puppetry and Māori storytelling to tamariki and their whānau in libraries and schools across the country. This roadshow is to promote the release of 3 volumes of children’s audiobooks called TORO PIKOPIKO TALES, whilst offering children a tactile experience with a range of unique puppets.
From 2020 – 2021 Creative New Zealand funded the creation and promotion of 3 volumes of musical audiobooks for children, also called TORO PIKOPIKO TALES. These three volumes are also part of the Radio NZ collection of children’s audiobooks, with volumes # 1 & 2 already up-loaded to their site and part of their weekly Storytime programming. Find out more at the Toro Pikopiko website.