PUTATARA

The Putatara (above) is one of the trumpets used by the Maori of New Zealand. The shells are the NZ native conch called Awanui. When playing the hand can be inserted into the bell of the shell to alter the notes.

KOAUAU

Koauau (above) are my main passion amongst the Taonga Puoro (musical instruments of the maori). They are a side-blown flute and can play quite complex melodies (with a bit of practice). Playing as with all things comes down to practice, but to start it does help if you can whistle - then the lips are used to directing a stream of air.

Whistle softly and touch the side of the mouthpiece against your lips (as Sam is showing above). Rotate the Koauau forward until you hear hisses, whistles and squeeks as you pass through the right area. From there, it's just practice until you find the sweet spot without thinking about it. The angle does change as you move up the register.

Once you start playing a Koauau, you'll find that you can blow pretty well anything with a suitable hole in it - and that is the best training for mastering these wonderful Taonga (treasures).

KARANGA MANU

The Karanga Manu (above) is the bird caller the Maori used in ancient times. Usually played across the hole as Taimana is demonstrating (basically as you would blow across a bottle which many of us have attempted sometime).

POROTITI

The Porotiti (above) seems to have been used more with the healing arts. Uses that have been passed down through oral tradition include playing the Porotiti over a child with a congested chest and giving them to the elderly to help mobility. To play it, hold the two wooden handles and spin the Porotiti in a circle until the cords wind up. Then pull the handles apart and allow the Porotiti's momentum to wind the cords back up again and repeat this motion in a rhythmic fashion.

TO PURCHASE ANY OF THE ABOVE CARVINGS (OR COMMISSION A PIECE)

Simply email me, Wayne Costar, at jadecarving@gmail.com. I accept all major credit cards (or bank deposits from within New Zealand).
I can send these carvings to you anywhere in the world. Postage and packaging extra.

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