Work: Taonga Puoro Wananga Ki Ōtautahi
Bio: Tony Smith (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tahu – Kāti Irakehu) and Geoff Low specialise in traditional Māori musical instruments (Taonga Puoro). They have formed a group that regularly presents workshops funded in part by the Ngāi Tahu Fund working with Richard Nunns and Brian Flintoff who are widely regarded as the worlds leading authorities of these treasures. Geoff is a jazz musician who is very skilled at teaching the different techniques and nuances required to play these very demanding instruments. Tony has spent many years learning how to make and play the many instruments he now has, and the Tikanga associated with them.
From the shared workshops with Richard and Brian, they now run their own to further develop the skills for those interested in these treasures that were almost lost to us, the present generation. They wish to acknowledge Richard, Brian, Hirini Melbourne and the other members of Hau Manu who breathed life back into the instruments that were destined to be consigned to museum curios.
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