On Friday, 17 May, Bob Bickerton visited Heaton’s PAC to share his amazing show called Te Ao o Taonga Pūoro (The World of Singing Treasures). The students who elected to attend were enthralled by Bob as he demonstrated 20 different traditional Māori instruments.

The instruments featured included pākuru, kōhatu, tumutumu, pūrerehua, porotiti, hue puruhau, poi awhiowhio, kōauau ponga ihu, pūtōrino, kōauau, pōrutu, ororuarangi, nguru, pūtatara, pūpū harakeke, karanga ruru, karanga weka, karanga manu and pūkāea.

While discussing how to play them, Bob told a number of pūrākau (old stories) that gave background stories to the taonga. These stories included a creation story, the separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku, the anger of Tāwhirimātea after the separation, Hine Pū Te Hue's role in bringing peace to her siblings, the story of Hine Raukatauri and how she went to live in her flute, where the Kōkako gets its song, the story of an albatross wing, the story of a whale stranding and a tooth from one of those whales, the story of the pūpū harakeke and its role in warning of approaching danger and Tāne's task of cloaking Papatūānuku in the ngahere (bush).

Bob also talked about how the sounds of the instruments were lost and then revived by the group Haumanu before he finished with a waiata and question time. The number of thoughtful questions asked was testimony to Bob’s captivating performance.

Many thanks to Annabel (Rm 1), one of our Performing Arts Leaders, who, along with Leo (Rm 1) and Max (Rm 1), conscientiously welcomed Bob on his arrival. At the conclusion, Annabel confidently thanked him for his amazing performance.