In 1994 Richard Nunns, Brian Flintoff, Clem Mellish and Hirini Melbourne started a series of Wananga (workshops) at Onetahua Marae in Golden Bay. It was there that a group of us made and learned to play these wonderful instruments. We owe Richard, Brian, Clem and Hirini among others a debt of gratitude for their extensive efforts researching and sharing oral history to rediscover these once-lost treasures and help them sing again.
PUTATARA (SHELL TRUMPET)
KOAUAU (FLUTE)
KARANGA MANU (BIRD CALLER)
The Karanga Manu is the bird caller the Maori used in ancient times. It is played by blowing across the hole (as my son Taimana is demonstrating in the photo above). The technique is much as you would blow across a bottle though having a smaller hole the lips have to direct the stream of air more.
POROTITI (HUMMING DISC)
