Kōauau (flute) plaster cast replica

This plaster cast was commissioned by Augustus Hamilton, Dominion Museum Director from 1903 - 1913 when he died. He wanted to repatriate taonga of Maori art as permanent examples of Maori history. He contacted the British Museum in 1904 to ask for several plaster casts to be made of taonga in the collection, and again asked for more casts in 1909 making a total of at least 40 casts made and sent to Hamilton's specifications based on his book 'Hamilton's Maori Art' and 'Edge-Partington's Ethnographical Series.'