He Ara Pūoro
Richard Nunns plays traditional Māori instruments from his taonga pūoro collection
He Ara Pūoro (A Pathway of Song) is a collaboration between Richard Nunns and RNZ, whereby Richard plays and begins to describe the many traditional Māori instruments in his collection.


Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, 2012. All photos: RNZ/Gareth Watkins, 2012.


Richard Nunns, All photos: RNZ/Gareth Watkins 2012.


Koauau Ponga Ihu


Porotiti - Kororohu


Pumotomoto


Putorino


Putatara


Koauau (Ki A Piopio)


Tumutumu 1


Tumutumu 2


Purerehua - Garara


Ku


Pahu Pounamu


Pukaea


Rehu


Tuaroria (with Nikau leaf)


Poi Awhiowhio


Karanga Weka and Karanga Manu


Porutu


Hue Puruhau


Nguru


Tokere


Tarau


Ororuarangi


Putorino 1


Putorino 2


Tarakimere


Pupu Harakeke


Pakuru 1


Pakuru 2


Pupakapaka


Rore - Tatara


Pererau


Pupurangi


Roria Me Kukau


Poi (Raupo Ipu Korero Poi Piu)


Tetere - Pu Harakeke - Pu Kihi 1


Tetere - Pu Harakeke - Pu Kihi 2


Hoputea - Whakai i tama


Nga uri o Waitaki (Nguru and Karanga Manu)


Pu Hue


Kohatu mahi rongoa


Irirangi - Rangirua - Ororua (Koauau Putorino and Pukaea)


Komata o te rangi


Tutemangaroa (Koauau)


Hue rara


Te Waihihi o Nga Tai Parirua (Kohatu)


Pu


Purukau


Tu Temangaroa


Pu (Cavalry Bugle)


Koauau


Ororua rangi


Pahu (Bronze)


Koauau Ponamu Wai


Kazoo


Shotgun Shell


Koauau and Kohatu Pounamu


He Ara Pūoro production team (L-R) Hinemoana Baker, Richard Nunns, Roger Smith, Gareth Watkins, Chris Adams. Photo: RNZ


He Ara Pūoro production team member Matt Thomson.
Over the past 30 years Richard Nunns, Brian Flintoff and the late Hirini Melbourne travelled New Zealand talking to elders about traditional Māori instruments, their voices and functions. He Ara Pūoro (A Pathway of Song) gives listeners an entry-point into that journey.
Each feature has Richard playing an instrument and then talking about its individual history and context.
This audio is an educational aid to further the understanding of these musical taonga (treasures). Please respect the work of Richard, Hirini, Brian and the producers by not using this material in any other form.
Collection items
- Kōauau Ponga Ihu
- Porotiti/Kōrorohū
- Pūmotomoto
- Pūtōrino
- Pūtātara
- Kōauau (Ki A Piopio)
- Tumutumu
- Pūrerehua/Gārara
- Kū
- Pahū Pounamu
- Pūkāea
- Rehu
-
Poi Āwhiowhio and Tuarōria (with Nīkau leaf)
2 Feb 2012Poi Āwhiowhio and Tuarōria (with Nīkau leaf) Audio
- Karanga Weka and Karanga Manu
- Pōrutu
- Hue Puruhau
- Nguru
- Tokere
- Tārau
- Ororuarangi
-
Pūtōrino (Hine Raukatauri and Te ara ki te Kainga)
2 Feb 2012Pūtōrino (Hine Raukatauri and Te ara ki te Kainga) Audio
- Tarakimere
- Pūpū Harakeke
- Pakuru
- Pūpakapaka
- Rore / Tātara
- Pererau
- Pūpūrangi
- Rōria Me Kukau
- Poi (Raupō, Ipu Kōrero, Poi Piu)
- Tetere / Pū Harakeke / Pū Kihi
- Hoputea and Whakai i tama
-
Ngā uri o Waitaki (Nguru and Karanga Manu)
2 Feb 2012Ngā uri o Waitaki (Nguru and Karanga Manu) Audio
- Pū Hue
-
Kohatu mahi rongoa and Porotiti rākau rewarewa
2 Feb 2012Kohatu mahi rongoa and Porotiti rākau rewarewa Audio
-
Irirangi / Rangirua / Ororua (Kōauau, Pūtōrino and Pūkāea)
2 Feb 2012Irirangi / Rangirua / Ororua (Kōauau, Pūtōrino and Pūkāea) Audio
- Komata o te rangi
- Tūtemangaroa (Kōauau)
- Hue rarā
- Te Waihīhī o Ngā Tai Parirua (Kohatu)
- Pahu (Bronze)
- Purukau and Pu
- Tūtemangaroa (Kōauau) 2
- Pu (Cavalry Bugle)
- Koauau
- Ororua rangi
- Koauau Ponamu Wai
- Kazoo
- Shotgun Shell
- Koauau and Kohatu Pounamu
He Ara Pūoro (A Pathway of Song) could not have happened without the generous support of: Richard Nunns, Jamie Bull, the team at The Karori Wildlife Sanctuary (later re-named Zealandia), Hinemoana Baker, Roger Smith, Gareth Watkins, Chris Adams, Miles Rogers and Kate Mead. Arohanui.
We welcome any feedback on the instruments or features - please email RNZ Concert your thoughts. If you would like to know more about Richard you can visit his website.

He Ara Pūoro production team (L-R) Hinemoana Baker, Richard Nunns, Roger Smith, Gareth Watkins, Chris Adams. Photo: RNZ