Hine Pū te Hue is the spiritual entity for the hue. She is associated with calming storms, and the sounds created from the hue are soothing and peaceful, like the spirit of Hine Pū te Hue – a …

Taonga puoro (traditional Māori musical instruments) are seen as children of the families of the gods who brought them into being. ‘Rangi’ is the word for tunes, and the name of the primal Sky Father to whom music drifts up – so melodic instruments are from the world of Rangi.

Taonga Puoro are the musical instruments of the Māori people of Aotearoa (New Zealand). The name Taonga Puoro means ‘singing treasures’. This name gives an insight into how highly the instruments are valued, both for the beauty of the sound, the instrument itself and the story of …

Taonga pūoro are the musical instruments of the Māori people of Aotearoa (New Zealand). The name taonga pūoro means singing treasures. This name gives an insight into how highly the instruments are valued, both for the beauty of the sound, the instrument itself and the story of …

Hue, or gourd, is used to create Taonga Puoro both large and small. Cross-blown or swung like a Poi, these Taonga Puoro convey the peaceful song of Hinepūtehue and mimic the call of manu (birds) like Kākāpō, Kererū, Weka, and Tui.

Medium-sized hue can be made into poi a whiowhio, used for bird calling and other purposes. With a string attached and two holes in the side, they are twirled to create a twittering song. Other hue, with their seeds loosened or replaced with pebbles, become rhythmic shakers known as hue puruwai or hue rarā.

Putatara Conch shell with carved mouthpiece and very rate in Aotearoa. Sounds vary from "trumpet" to melodic sobs by placing palm of hand in the opening side while blowing makes a whale-like sound. View my Taonga Puoro page for more examples of traditional Maori musical instruments carved in many unusual materials. Back to Top

Tōkere are small pieces of hard wood or shells held in the palm by dancers and played like castanets. Some small versions of the pahū (log drum) suggest their use in music. The gourd instruments hue puruwai and hue rarā are variations of …

Hine pū te hue, one of his daughters, became the ancestress of the gourds and began by using her own body as a sounding vessel. Another daughter, Hine Raukatauri, loved her flute so much that she chose to live inside it and became the Goddess of Flute Music.

Māori traditions include a wide range of musical instruments and these are presented here in their family groups, mostly illustrated by contemporary examples that have been used in the revival journey.