Tane's Children is a three-movement exploration in imitation and musical development of the calls of New Zealand birds. This piece features some of the sounds of the native bush recorded and researched by the composer that were not used in his fable for narrator and orchestra, Tane & the Kiwi. The solo setting for flute allows for a more intimate, freer interpretation of the natural music of the birds, evoking with greater depth the poignant sense of mystery engendered by the wilderness of Aotearoa.

At the start of each of the movements, a brief statement imitates the exact call of the respective bird. As some of these birds have two voice-boxes, a series of special techniques are used by the flutist to approximate the actual sounds, like flutter-tonguing, harmonics, multiphonics, and breath effects. The music then develops each call into with an emotional narrative inherent in the form.

The korimako, more commonly known as the "bellbird," is most often heard in the late evening or early morning, chiming separate, pungent tones over a twitter that is almost inaudible from a distance. Examples of this can be heard in the middle of the first movement, which starts with a different example of avian songmanship - a scolding duet, recorded by Goss on the slopes of Mount Arthur in the South Island.

The kokako's shadowy, plaintive call is rarely heard, and is considered to be a treasured experience by New Zealand naturalists. The bird was considered to be extinct, but was recently rehabilitated and now resides in recovering numbers at Tiritiri Matangi Island Bird Sanctuary. The saddleback, or tieke, has a livelier call but is similarly endangered. The excerpts used in this work include various calls of both male and female birds, in dialogue, display, and alarm.