About this piece: Ostrich bone kōauau with the finger holes as faces representing Māui Mua, Māui Roto and Māui Taha whose names are sometimes used for these holes and who are immortalised as the stars which make Orion’s Belt.

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:  Bone