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Title / Demonstrate knowledge and skills of taonga puoro
Level / 3 / Credits / 2
Purpose / This unit standard is for people who want to learn or to improve their knowledge and skills of taonga puoro.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate an understanding of tikanga in relation to taonga puoro; explore the construction of taonga puoro; and gather natural resources, construct, and play taonga puoro.
Classification / Māori Performing Arts > Taonga Puoro
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Recommended skills and knowledge / It is recommended that people undertaking this unit standard consider working towards unit standards at Level 2 or above from the subfieldReo Māori,or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Explanatory notes
1Glossary
Construction is defined as natural form, modified form, modification process.
Tikanga refers to meaning, values and Māori world view.
Whānau refers to a group of taonga puoro related by sound origin.
Kawa refers to the accepted practice, ritual and ceremony.
Karakia refers to ritual or ceremonial incantations.
2The term experienced in evidence requirement 3.1 of this unit standard is determined by the assessor.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate understanding of tikanga in relation to taonga puoro.
Evidence requirements
1.1Demonstration explains the origins of sound in nature in relation to the whakapapa of taonga puoro.
RangeRanginui, Papatūānuku, and their children should be used as prime sources;
evidence of at least four is required.
1.2Demonstration identifies whānau of taonga puoro.
Rangeevidence of at least four whānau is required.
1.3Demonstration identifies examples of instruments included in each whānau and their relationship to the origin of sound.
Rangeevidence of at least two instruments from four whānau is required.
1.4Demonstration acknowledges the significance of karakia associated with the whakapapa of taonga puoro.
1.5Demonstration explains the kawa of taonga puoro.
Rangemust include examples of when and why the making and playing of taonga puoro are appropriate.
Outcome 2
Explore the construction of taonga puoro.
Evidence requirements
2.1Exploration recognises the qualities of different materials for construction of taonga puoro.
Rangemust include but is not limited to – wood, stone, bone, shell, vegetation.
2.2Exploration identifies collection sources and processes.
Rangewhen, where, how; selection, presentation, conservation of resource.
2.3Exploration identifies the preparation of materials for the construction of taonga puoro.
Rangepreservation, quality voice.
2.4Exploration recognises the use of technology in construction of taonga puoro.
Rangetools, techniques;
evidence is required for at least three of each.
2.5Exploration recognises taonga puoro aesthetic design.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to presentation embellishment, including carving style.
2.6Exploration recognises taonga puoro functional design.
2.7Exploration recognises the use of karakia in the construction of taonga puoro.
Rangecollection of natural resources, construction and completion of the taonga.
Outcome 3
Gather natural resources, construct, and play taonga puoro.
Evidence requirements
3.1Gathering of natural resources for taonga puoro is experienced.
Rangerecognition, identification, preservation, conservation;
evidence is required for at least three different natural resources.
3.2Effort to find the voice of selected natural resources is evident.
Rangeat least three natural resources.
3.3Natural resources are used to construct two different taonga puoro.
3.4Sound is produced from the two constructed taonga puoro.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 1 September 1998 / 31 December 2015
Revision / 2 / 13 November 2001 / 31 December 2015
Revision / 3 / 14 April 2005 / 31 December 2015
Rollover and Revision / 4 / 19 November 2010 / 31 December 2017
Rollover and Revision / 5 / 14 December 2012 / 31 December 2019
Rollover / 6 / 21 May 2015 / 31 December 2019
Revision / 7 / 10 December 2015 / 31 December 2019
Review / 8 / 20 April 2017 / 31 December 2019
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0226
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
NZQA Māori Qualifications ServicesSSB Code 194 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut