GROUP
Series 12 Photographs mainly relating to taonga puoro (Maori musical instruments)
- Date
- [ca 1910, ca 1946-ca 2004]
- By
- Nunns, Richard, 1945-2021
- Reference
- Series-6231
- Description
Prints, slides and negatives are mainly of taonga puoro (Maori musical instruments), instrument makers, students and performers.
The majority of the images relate to Richard Nunns' involvement with a group of people interested in the playing and making of taonga puoro, from 1991. In this year, during a conference held at Te Araroa by the East Coast branch of Nga Puna Waihanga (the Maori Artists and Writers Association), Nunns began a strong relationship with Hirini Melbourne and Brian Flintoff which resulted in the revival of the playing and making of traditional Maori musical instruments. Some of the taonga shown are old (the group includes images from museum collections) and many were made from the 1980s by Brian Flintoff, Clem Mellish, Huata Holmes, John Collins and others.
Photographs highlight the variety of materials used for the instruments which includes clay, gourds, bone - from birds including moa, dog, chamois, whale and human, whale tooth, shell - of land and marine creatures, native woods and stone - including pounamu (greenstone) and pakohe (argillite).
Photographs also shows a range of events held between 1991 and 2004 (some overseas), and the musicians, actors and others involved.
Also included are images from Nunns' student years at the University of Canterbury and Teachers College (1965-1969), and from his years as a secondary school teacher (Drama and English) in Hamilton and Nelson (1970-1978). There are three negative strips (and prints) which comprise images of Mauri Tirikatene in various poses with a pūtōrino.
Arrangement: Images left in original order. Some duplicates are located in different boxes.
Negatives at 35mm-85518 to 85581.
Quantity: 519 colour original photographic print(s). 47 digital print(s). 111 b&w original photographic print(s). 4 colour photo-mechanical print(s). 7 b&w photo-mechanical print(s). 39 colour original transparency/ies. 54 colour original negative(s) 35mm strips comprising 185 images. 3 b&w original negative(s) 35mm strips comprising 9 images.
Provenance: Donated by Richard Nunns in February 2007.
Processing information: This series was previously described as a separate collection PA-Group-00060. It was brought into this record with manuscripts of the same provenance at ATL-Group-00247 in November 2017.
The film negatives are mostly not described at item level (apart from three 35mm negative strips). See the series scope and content for general information on the content of these photographic formats.
The film transparencies were described at an item level in April 2019.
The transparencies now at PA12-3921 were previously housed as 35mm negatives.
- Use/Reproduction
- No reproduction of the images of Deborah Wai Kapohe at PAColl-9112-1 without her permission.
- Access restrictions
- No access restrictions - Access is unrestricted, however the transparencies and negativesin this series require staff assistance to view.
- Part of
- Nunns, Richard, 1945-2021: Collection
- Format
- 519 colour original photographic print(s), 47 digital print(s), 111 b&w original photographic print(s), 4 colour photo-mechanical print(s), 7 b&w photo-mechanical print(s), 39 colour original transparency/ies, 54 colour original negative(s) 35mm strips comprising 185 images, 3 b&w original negative(s) 35mm strips comprising 9 images, Photographs
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Maori and other musical instruments, performers and events
Date: [ca1975-ca2004]
From: Nunns, Richard, 1945-2021: Collection
By: Alford, Rachel, active 2005; James, Brian, active 1983
Reference: PAColl-9112-5
Description: Photographs - mostly from the mid 1980s - of a range of instruments (old and new, Maori, Japanese, Chinese, from Pacific Islands and Celtic) being played at events in different parts of New Zealand, by New Zealand and visiting performers. Includes shakuhachi, guqin, a Rarotongan nose flute, a Celtic horn, taonga puoro including a koauau made from koiwi tangata (human bone) and a kete woven by Geneva Gray. Also includes images of performances curated by Allan Thomas in the auditorium of the National Library; copy of the cover for an album `Traditional music of the Maori' with Mrs Wineera of Porirua; the opening of visitor facilities in the Ruakuri Cave at Waitomo; an event in the crater of Mount Tarawera; a workshop at an Auckland teachers training college; expeditions in search of pounamu in the Arahura River valley; a tour by Urban Taniwha. Quantity: 100 colour original photographic print(s). 23 b&w original photographic print(s). 4 papers (letters and envelopes).
Promotional photographs of taonga puoro (Maori musical instruments), performers and lan...
Date: 1997-2004
From: Nunns, Richard, 1945-2021: Collection
By: Carlin, Jocelyn, 1955-2017; Edge, Michelle, active 2000; Page, Stuart, 1957-
Reference: PAColl-9112-7
Description: Collection of mainly colour photographs, taken from 1997 to 2004, of performances and other events, instruments (and items relating to instruments) and places in New Zealand, all of which have involved Richard Nunns. A few are duplicates of photographs in other boxes of this collection. Events include: Kauraka Kauraka playing a nose flute: a trio, comprising Richard Nunns, Mike Cooper and Elio Martuscheillo, playing in Rome in 2002; the opening of Te Papa, 1998; an image from `Taku Wana', an opera by Helen Fisher and Wi Kuki Kaa showing Mere Boynton singing the opening aria; the launch of `He Waiata Onamata - songs from the past' in 1998. Instruments shown are old and newly made (by Brian Flintoff, Clem Mellish and Huata Holmes). Includes woven items associated with taonga puoro. Also includes photographs of caves where taonga puoro have been played (Maungati and Waitomo), Elephant Rocks, and an island near Durville Island. Quantity: 45 digital print(s) Colour. 2 b&w photo-mechanical print(s). 2 Papers - copies of letter and form.
Photographs relating to Richard Nunns' career
Date: [ca 1946-ca 2000]
From: Nunns, Richard, 1945-2021: Collection
By: Clayton, Ross, active 1988-
Reference: PAColl-9112-1
Description: Photographs representing stages of Richard Nunns' life and career, from his student days in the mid 1960s, through school teaching - English and drama - (circa 1970-1990), to his years researching, leading workshops and performing with taonga puoro - Maori musical instruments - (from 1991 to 2000). Includes images from the following: Richard at about 16 months, in 1946; Matamata Intermediate School class photograph, 1958; Rehearsals in the Barbadoes Street Cemetery, Christchurch, and performances in the Ngaio Marsh Theatre, of `Sergeant Musgrave's Dance', by John Ardern, directed by Mervyn Thompson. Participants were members of the University of Canterbury Drama Society, circa 1966. Richard Nunns played the leading role and other actors included Bill Stalker and Deidre O'Connor; Production of Gilbert and Sullivan's `Pirates of Penzance', for which Richard Nunns was the Pirate King, directed by Fleur Stark at Matamata College, circa 1971; Camp at Totaranui for seventh form English students from Nelson Girls High School, where Richard Nunns was a drama teacher from 1978; Performance at Chez Eelco, Nelson: Teriu Lemon - bass guitar, Richard Nunns - tuba and porutu, Brian James - soprano saxophone, and poet Lewis Scott. Circa 1980; `Sox and Gumboots', a group of teachers (including Richard Nunns) and students from Fairfield College, Hamilton, who put on shows for local schools. Circa 1978; Workshops, wananga and presentations made in various venues; A stone quarry site on the Maitai River, Nelson; Collection of putorino from an unnamed museum; Richard Nunns playing the pumotomoto (made by Brian Flintoff) over the pregnant belly of Deborah Waikapohe; Taonga puoro played by Richard Nunns, including the following: a koauau named Kaiwhakaruaki, made by Brian Flintoff; Hamumu ira garara (Southern term for purerehua), made by Huata Holmes of pounamu; putorino, Te ara ki te kainga, made by John Collins, of matai; koauau ponga ihu, nguru and putatara. Some images from the book `Toiapiapi' are by Ross Clayton. Performances involving taonga puoro with other musicians including Hirini Melbourne and Judy Bailey, circa 1991-2000; Four koauau: one made of totara carved by Jimmy Fergus; Ki a piopio, of maire; two made by Clem Mellish, of black argillite from the Croixelles, near Durville Island, and of pounamu; Participants at a flute convention, circa 1998, including: Ingrid Culliford, Douglas Mews, John Wells, Kirsten Eade, Michelle Scullion, Michael Cooper, Eric Hoover, Brian James and Alexa Still; Harry Nunns (Richard's father) leading a swing band called `Last of the Summer Wine', in St George's Hall, Thames, circa 1990. Quantity: 102 colour original photographic print(s). 15 b&w original photographic print(s) Includes 1 proof sheet with 9 images.
Photographs relating to the recording of Te-Hekenga-a-rangi
Date: [2002-2003]
From: Nunns, Richard, 1945-2021: Collection
Reference: PAColl-9112-9
Description: Two coloured laser prints relating to the recording `Te-Hekenga-a-Rangi' which was made in the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, University of Waikato, by Richard Nunns, Hirini Melbourne and Aroha Yates-Smith shortly before Hirini Melbourne's death in 2003: covered table with the instruments used in the recording; Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns during the recording. Quantity: 2 digital print(s).
Taonga puoro (Maori musical instruments), wananga (workshops), events, performers and o...
Date: [ca1979]-2002
From: Nunns, Richard, 1945-2021: Collection
By: Clayton, Ross, active 1988-; John Charles Photography
Reference: PAColl-9112-6
Description: Photographs of instruments, of musicians from various genres, of instrument-making workshops, and of performances with taonga puoro mostly from 1991 to 2002, many involving Richard Nunns and Hirini Melbourne. Performances include `Te Ao Marama' - a theatrical event written by Tungia Baker, held at Elephant Rocks in the Waitaki River valley on Waitangi Day 2002, British saxophonist Evan Parker, who visited New Zealand in 1999, playing with Richard Nunns on pukaea, a jazz group in the Suter Gallery Nelson, a wedding in 2001 in Plimmerton and a concert for children given by Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns in the National Museum. Includes photographs from a workshop held at Auckland Museum, led by Brian Flintoff involving members of Haumanu (a group of musicans and instrument makers formed by Hirini Melbourne, which from 1991 worked to revive taonga puoro). Also includes images of instruments held in the Whanganui Museum, and proof sheets relating to the publication `Toiapiapi' (1993) for which Ross Clayton was the photographer. Quantity: 18 colour original photographic print(s). 48 b&w original photographic print(s) Includes proof sheets with 44 images. 4 Papers - letters, copy of newspaper article.
Taonga puoro (Maori musical instruments), performers and greenstone (pounamu)
Date: [ca1985-ca2000]
From: Nunns, Richard, 1945-2021: Collection
Reference: PAColl-9112-4
Description: Box includes promotional photographs of Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns, (probably taken in the 1990s), photographs of a woven and decorated shaman's bag from Timor Leste, and 46 images of instruments, weapons, and details of carvings, from an unidentified museum collection. Also includes photographs relating to Mauri Tirikatene: a postcard featuring a pendant with the words `Poutini Pounamu' (Greenstone Trail); an unnamed woman with a boulder by a river; Mauri Tirikatene seeking pounamu in the Arahura River; the pendant on a blanket beside a pounamu boulder; Mauri wearing the pendant and carrying the boulder; other pieces of pounamu; a drawing labelled Te Kaahu - The hawk. Quantity: 90 colour original photographic print(s). 2 b&w original photographic print(s).
Postcards
Date: [ca1910-ca2000]
From: Nunns, Richard, 1945-2021: Collection
Reference: PAColl-9112-8
Description: Four postcards from ca1910-1914 showing Chinese death cages, a young woman at a telephone, a woman dressed as an allegory of Charity, and two Edwardian beauties in furs. Four postcard portraits of popular singers Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey, Cassandra Wilson, and Little Richard. Postcard showing a carved pare (door lintel). Mounted photograph of Richard Nunns' tattooed arm (pattern named Tuhonohono). Quantity: 3 colour photo-mechanical print(s). 5 b&w photo-mechanical print(s). 1 b&w original photographic print(s). 1 colour original photographic print(s).
Transparencies of taonga puoro
Date: [ca 2000-2007]
From: Nunns, Richard, 1945-2021: Collection
Reference: PA12-6127
Description: Detail of a carved nguru. Title supplied by Library. Quantity: 1 colour original transparency/ies 120 size.
Transparencies of taonga puoro
Date: [ca 2000-2007]
From: Nunns, Richard, 1945-2021: Collection
Reference: PA12-6126
Description: Transparencies of taonga puoro including a hue puruhau (large gourd); pūpū kauri made from a giant kauri snail (Paryphanta busbyi) shell; and an ornately carved kōauau. In all photographs, not the entire instrument is visible - detail only. Title supplied by Library. Quantity: 4 colour original transparency/ies 120 size.
Transparencies of taonga puoro
Date: [ca 2000-2007]
From: Nunns, Richard, 1945-2021: Collection
Reference: PA12-6128
Description: Transparencies of various types of taonga puoro, including stone, wood, and bone kōauau, pūtātara, hue puruhau, pūrerehua, and porotiti. Also some images of Richard Nunns playing a porotiti. Title supplied by Library. Quantity: 23 colour original transparency/ies.