Nga Taonga Puoro Traditional Maori musical instruments

Pukaea — wooden trumpet

Notes and performance by Richard Nunns

wooden trumpet

The picture shows a smaller example of the Maori musical instrument. Pukaea were used to announce relay signals at times of conflict and were also used to announce the rituals associated with the planting of kumara (sweet potato) and other crops.

Richard Nunns playing the pukaea

Koauau Maire — wooden flute

Notes and performance by Richard Nunns

This finely decorated example of this Maori musical instrument is made from maire, a native hardwood.
Roll cursor over image to see the other side.

Download a longer excerpt: mp3 0:31 192k

Putatara — conch trumpet

notes and performance by Richard Nunns


These Maori musical instruments had a variety of roles from signaling to ceremonial and ritual use.

Download mp3 0:57 332k

Putorino — trumpet / flute

notes and performance by Richard Nunns

These Maori musical instruments had a variety of roles
from signalling to ceremonial and ritual use.

Download an example of the putorino being sung into: mp3 0:32 196k
Download putorino being played: mp3 1:22 504k

Nguru — flute small flute played with mouth or nose

Notes and performance by Richard Nunns

This finely decorated example of this Maori musical instrument is made from maire, a native hardwood.
Roll cursor over image to see the other side.

Koauau ponga ihu — nose flute

Notes and performance by Richard Nunns

This globular flute is played with the nose. This Maori musical instrument is made from the hue/gourd.

Pahu pounamu — jade gong

notes and performance by Richard Nunns

This Maori musical instrument was used in the whare purakau (house of learning). In the example at left the bone is the jaw of the upokohue (pilot whale) and the striker is made from akeake, a native hardwood.

Poiawhiowhio — whistling poi

notes and performance by Richard Nunns

Poiawhiowhio

This Maori musical instrument was used as a bird lure. It was made by hollowing a gourd, drilling holes on either side and attaching a cord by which it could be swung around the head creating a whistling, chattering voice that attracted birds.

Tumutumu — a ‘found’ percussion instrument

Notes and performance by Richard Nunns

found percussion instrument

This Maori musical instrument was used in the whare purakau (house of learning). In the example at left the bone is the jaw of the upokohue (pilot whale) and the striker is made from akeake, a native hardwood.

Download: mp3 0:25 184k

Richard Nunns playing the instrument

Koauau — end blown flute

Notes and performance by Richard Nunns

The koauau commonly has 3 finger holes. It has a melodic rane of four tones which corresponds to the melodic range of moteatea/tradtional song.

The longer koauau is made from koiwi toroa/albatross wing-bone; the shorter is made from koiwi kuri/dog bone.