Scope and Contents The collection contains recordings of traditional Māori songs, mostly recorded by Mervyn McLean as part of his research as a student at the University of Otago. First, for his Masters in 1958 and later for his PhD from 1962-64. Further recordings were made throughout the 1970s as part of his continued professional research, and work as Director of the Archive. Recordings were made throughout Aoteatroa, New Zealand, but are predominantly from Te Ika-a-Maui | North Island.The...

Scope and Contents Having researched Māori traditional musical forms extensively in Aotearoa New Zealand, Mervyn McLean secured funding from the American National Science Foundation to conduct a survey in the Cook Islands looking for similarities or insights considering the two nations’ linguistic similarities. This collection consists of the recordings made during the survey in the Cook Islands, predominantly at Aitutaki and Mangaia, from September to November 1967. More than 40 different song...