Kōauau (flute)

About this item

Title

Kōauau (flute)

Content partner

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Collection

Te Papa Collections Online

Description

The koauau is a traditional Maori mouth flute usually made from native woods with a soft inner pith that was burnt-out using hot embers. They typically had three notes-stops on top, and one underneath, often ringed by countersunk paua shell inlay. The first upper note-stop was called Maui-mua, the second Maui-roto, and the third Maui-taha; each one representing one of the brothers of the famous Polynesian cult-hero Maui. Koauau were sometimes made from bone, and when they were it was usually ...

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Format

Image

Date created

early 19th century

URL

https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/210308

Related subjects

wood / shell (animal material) / kōauau / flutes / woodcarving / Te Huringa I: 1800 - 1900 / Northland / William Ockleford Oldman

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