Nga Kete e Toru, for piano trio and taonga pūoro, is a programmatic work co-written by Gareth Farr and Richard Nunns and is inspired by Māori mythology and the story of Tāne, also known as Tāne Mahuta and Tāne nui a Rangi, the god of forests and birds. The myth tells of Tane and his ascent to the heavens for acquiring the three baskets of knowledge: Nga Kete e Toru. The work features a group of traditional Māori wind instruments called the Pūmotomoto, which are key characters in the narrative of Tane's epic journey.

Prelude: Te Ao: The Pūmotomoto Tawhirirangi (ostrich bone) is the soloist of the Prelude, with the piano trio providing an atmospheric bed of strings, resonant piano chords and textures.

Movement I: The Battle with Whiro: The spotlight turns to the trio for this movement with the battle calls from the Putatara (conch shell) and Pumotomoto Tutu alternating with the tumultuous sounds of frenetic bursts and staccato figurations of the trio. The Tokere (stones) are heard before the Purerehua, which evokes the wild winds that blow the attacking insects away from Tane.

Interlude: The Fontanellas: This interlude focuses on another aspect of the Pūmotomoto which highlights its traditional use for imparting knowledge to the unborn child through the belly of the mother and shortly after birth. The music is a variation of the Prelude and also features the Hue Puruhau (Gourd).

Movement II: Nga Kete e Toru: The centrepiece of the work features the Pumotomoto Toroa (albatross bone), the most melodically flexible of all the Pumotomoto, as well as the Putorino (an instrument shaped and representing a cocoon). Throughout the movement, both these instruments weave themselves in and out of the sinuous melodies of the violin, cello and piano.

Interlude II: Tane: This Interlude represents another incarnation of the music of the Prelude. It features the Pumotomoto Miro and Koauau Koura (crayfish claw), which evoke the incantation of the god's blessing that allows Tane to approach the 12th heaven.

Movement III: The Guardhouse of the 12th Heaven: The finale signifies the heroic successes of Tane reaching the 12th heaven. Here, the Pumotomoto Tawhirirangi and Putorino alternate with the trio, as in the first movement. The Koauau makes another appearance before the Pumotomoto Tutu returns to be finally joined by the Pumotomoto matai. This particular instrument made from matai is an endemic New Zealand coniferous tree, also known as black pine.

Postlude: Te Ao: The pumotomoto tutu is played like a putatara (conch shell) or pukaea (wooden trumpet) into the resonating strings of the piano.