“Percussion's there in our lives, it's there in our heartbeat.”
With the resurgence of taonga pūoro, one musical instrument remains conspicuously absent from Māori music —pahū (drum). In this documentary Te Pahū, composer Hirini Melbourne (ONZM) and ethnologist Te Warena Taua trace the history of pahū, from musical accompaniment to being the manawa (heart) of communication and communities. Musicians and carvers bring to life the lost beat of pahū by creating a version using modern techniques. Pioneering Māori filmmaker Merata Mita (Patu!) directed Te Pahū, while Rawiri Paratene (Whale Rider) co-wrote and produced it.
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Cast
3 people
Merata Mita Director · Rawiri Paratene Writer Richard Rautjoki Editor
First release July 26, 1996 · Produced in New Zealand · Languages English, Māori
Production
Rangipai Productions
Production
Ora digital
Production
New Zealand
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Te Pahū
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English · Māori
Release dates
New Zealand · July 26, 1996
TV
No release date listed for United States.
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