Taonga Puoro - Singing Treasures: The musical instruments of the Maori is the first book to be published that comprehensively covers the world of Maori musical instruments, a fascinating and little-known area of traditional Maori culture.

This book has been written by master carver and instrument maker Brain Flintoff, and was inspired by the late Dr Hirini Melbourne, one of the leaders of the modern revival of this art form.

Taonga Puoro includes background to the tunes played on these instruments and the families of natural sounds with which they are associated. It is heavily illustrated with colour photographs of exquisite instruments and comes with a CD sampler, compiled from a selection of recent releases and featuring tracks of contemporary Maori music and the natural sounds which inspire them.

Brian Flintoff is a local Nelson master bone carver whose work is held on marae throughout Aotearoa and in private and public collections and museums throughout the world.