Doctor Richard Nunns 1945-2021
We are sad to hear of the passing of Richard Nunns, much of whose life was dedicated to reviving taonga puoro: traditional Māori instruments. He was also a supporter of the Turnbull Library and we have the privilege of preserving his personal collection.
Revival of taonga puoro
One of the world’s pre-eminent exponents of taonga puoro has passed away at the age of 75.
Dr Richard Nunns, along with Dr Hirini Melbourne and carver/instrument maker Brian Flintoff, led a resurgence in the playing of traditional Māori instruments in the late 1980s. The release of their album “Te Kū Te Whē” in 1994 was a milestone in the revival of instruments long thought consigned to museums.
Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns playing Taonga Pūoro on the marae ātea Omaka Marae, Blenheim, during of the Ngā Puna Waihanga National Conference, 1992. Taken by Gil Hanly. Ref: PA1-q-1310-3349/12. Alexander Turnbull Library.
Musical collaborations
Nunns came from a family of brass band players but became a jazz musician in the 1960s playing the trumpet and flute. Like many jazz players he was a good listener and a happy collaborator. This willingness to listen, combined with a natural humility allowed him to talk with kaumatua and learn more about the taonga puoro that fascinated him.
As a tireless musician, Nunns played taonga puoro in many musical settings, including with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, with Free Jazz exponent Evan Parker, with Moana & the Moa Hunters, as well as electronica artists like Pitch Black.
Awards and recognition
His contributions to music were recognised by his peers with admission to the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. At the 2012 Waiata Māori Music Awards, he received a prize for his lifetime contribution to Māori music.
He was given an honorary doctorate by Victoria University of Wellington and awarded a QSM for services to taonga puoro. In 2007 he was the awarded the Lilburn Trust citation for outstanding services to New Zealand music.
He was a mentor and inspiration to younger players of taonga puoro such as Horomona Horo, Alistair Fraser and Ariana Tikao.
Richard Nunns in the collections
The personal collection of Richard Nunns is held in the Alexander Turnbull Library for the benefit of future musicians and researchers (ref: ATL-Group-00247).
The collection includes correspondence, subject files, videos, ephemera, newspaper clippings, printed matter, sound recordings, and photographs relating to Nunns' life, career, and interest in taonga puoro.
The Turnbull also holds much other material relating to Richard Nunns, including copies of all his published recordings, numerous live recordings, and the business records of International New Zealand Artists (ref: ATL-Group-00025), who managed his career from the mid-1990s.
To browse all unpublished material related to Richard Nunns, please use this link.
Kua hinga te tōtara i Te Waonui-a-Tāne.
Portrait of Richard Nunns, taken by Gareth Watkins, 2009. Ref: PADL-000550. Alexander Turnbull Library.