The pūtōrino is shaped like the cocoon of the case moth, Tūngou ngou. The pūtōrino is said to possess both female and male ‘voices’. Some instruments emit a third voice, said to be a wairua (spiritual) voice. Pūtōrino are made from split and hollowed hardwood, sealed together with natural gums and bound by fine, split vines. The pūtōrino pictured was made by Potaka Taite, gifted to Te Papa as part of the Haumanu collection in 1997. The wood is mataī, bound with split vine.