Pūtōrino (bugle flute)

item details

NamePūtōrino (bugle flute)

ProductionBrian Flintoff; artist; 1997; Nelson

Classificationpūtōrino, Taonga pūoro, flutes, musical instruments, bugles, Taonga pūoro

Materialspūriri (wood), cord

Materials SummaryPuriri wood, cord

Techniquescarving

DimensionsOverall: 36mm (width), 150mm (length), 33mm (depth), 83.2g (weight)

Registration NumberME015907

Credit lineGift of Brian Flintoff, 1997

Overview

A pūriri pūtōrino carved by Brian Flintoff.

Pūtōrino
A pūtōrino is a unique taonga pūoro belonging to the family of flutes governed by Hine Raukatauri, the ancestral atua of music and flute arts, who took the form of the case-moth cocoon. Mirroring this tapered, chrysalis shape, the instrument is crafted by splitting a single length of wood lengthwise, hollowing out the inner chamber, and lashing the halves back together. Different iwi and hapū maintain distinct oral traditions, naming conventions, and ancestral narratives for its origins, alongside regional variations in carving style.

The instrument is renowned for its versatile range and ability to express distinct voices—though the names for these vary across players and regions. They include Te Kōkiri a Tāne, a trumpet-like call often called the male voice, and Te Wai o Hine, the flute-like sounds known as the female voice. Historical comparisons to European instruments led to the pūtōrino being glossed as a "bugle flute," a label that can be misleading by reducing a complex, multi-voiced taonga to foreign musical categories. Through subtle lip control, breath pressure, and finger placement, players navigate a rich spectrum of calls and sounds.

Gift to the Museum
This taonga was presented to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in 1997 as part of a significant collective gift from the group Haumanu to mark the opening of the new museum. Haumanu was a foundational national collective of artists, carvers, researchers, and composers including figures such as Hirini Melbourne, Richard Nunns, Brian Flintoff, Clem Mellish, Pena (Bernard) Makoare, Alan Hobbs, and Potaka Taite, all of whom contributed taonga to this gift. Active from the late 1980s onward, the group played a pivotal role in the research, resurgence, and ongoing revival of taonga pūoro, serving as a catalyst for restoring the voice of these sleeping treasures to the cultural landscape.

Artist Biography
Brian Flintoff (QSM) is a Nelson-based carver, educator, and pre-eminent maker of taonga pūoro. Born in Balclutha in 1943, he began carving bone as a hobby in 1976, developing distinct techniques shaped by traditional carving philosophies and a deep respect for the balance of physical and spiritual elements. As a foundational member of the Haumanu movement alongside Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns, Flintoff played a vital role in the research, revival, and contemporary practice of Māori musical instruments. His work is held in marae, public museums, and private collections worldwide, and he has shared his extensive knowledge through public exhibitions, workshops, and his seminal publication Taonga Pūoro: Singing Treasures. In recognition of his enduring contributions to arts and culture, he was awarded the Queen's Service Medal in 2010.

References

Flintoff, Brian: Taonga Pūoro: Singing Treasures, Craig Potton Publishing, 2004
Haumanu Collective: "Taonga Pūoro Instruments," haumanucollective.com
National Library of New Zealand: "Flintoff, Brian, 1943-", Name Authority Record