About this item: Kōauau are short flutes usually with three finger holes. Every instrument is regarded as an individual which gets named. The larger, blown end of this kōauau is the face of the instrument and to play it we bring its nose to ours as in a hongi, or breath sharing greeting. The face at the far end has two noses because it represents the face of the music which is created by uniting the breath of the player with the breath of the instrument. The pattern covering the body of the flute depicts the music going out and creating pleasing shapes in the silence. This one depicts Raukatauri and Pepe coming together.

About Taonga Puoro: In Maori Music traditions musical instruments are members of the families of the Gods. Tunes are named Rangi after the Sky Father to whom they ascend after being sounded and Rhythms  come from the heartbeats of Papa, the Earth Mother. Their children, Hine pu te Hue, Tane, and Tawhiri Matea, their Great uncle Tangaroa and a grandchild, Raukatauri, Goddess of flute music, are most of the ancestors of a wide range of musical instruments. Click here hear to learn the origin story of Maori flutes.

Material: Recycled Matai