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Traditional Maori musical instruments are spiritual in nature given that these instruments were played during nearly all of the important occasions that a tribe participated in. The haunting sounds produced by these musical instruments elevated the importance of the occasion to the tribe, and gave greater significance and prestige to the intricate embellishment bestowed upon them by the Tohunga Whakairo [priestly expert in the traditions and significance pertaining to the Maori carving]. Played as the occasion required, flutes were personal posessions of which there were several types, many of notable artistic beauty. The flutes were produced in both long and short forms, the long flute [Putorino] being varied in length from approximately 23 - 26 centimetres. They were formed from two wooden halves lashed together and their decoration being varied. The sound hole was occasionally made in the form of a tiki mask, the hole representing the mouth of the tiki. Koauau The short flutes (koauau) were of a stumpy form carved from one piece of wood or stone and hollowed through the centre. Three or more finger stops were drilled in the body of these flutes which were normally highly ornate. The note is produced by blowing at an angle across the top from the large end. The sound of maori flutes were often used as instruments of courtship as in the well-known legend of Hinemoa and Tutanekai. Porotiti Similar to a bull roarer but smaller. It is played by placing ones thumbs through the string that is thread through the instrument and twirling the string until it winds up, the player then moves his thumbs in and out as the rope winds and then unwinds. This instrument is said to create ultrasound which some people say can be used to remove phlegm from sleeping infants. Nguru Said to be a nose flute and similar in sound to the koauau. Whio Whistle made in the shape of a pupae and creates a high pitch sound among others, as this instrument relies on the expertise of the player. As with all instruments, these accompanied singers so the player needed to have an understanding of monotonic melodies that our people sang. These are original works of art.