Mohua

Mohua is the old name of Golden Bay. It is also the name of the small endangered yellowed bodied manu. He ngā waiata to the deity Tāne Māhuta beseeching protection. Tāne is shown with the pōrutu an instrument, the instrument of the patupaiarehe. Surrounding him are the kōtuku , the sacred manu brought from the heavens. The tūī , the other sacred bird flies from the centre upwards, there to hang flight before descending - Robin As Tāwhirimātea departs wē are taken to bush where the pōrutu (on this recording a large kōauau) calls out for the lost mohua, the pākuru represents its song falling on the barren ground - Bob