Māori Cultural Experiences
With roughly 660,000 Māori people living in New Zealand today the Māori culture is definitely alive and well throughout the country. Social, cultural and spiritual traditions are practised by Māori. The language is spoken by roughly 157,000 New Zealanders and taught in preschools through to secondary schools. Ancient Māori beliefs and traditions are respected by the country's leaders and care is taken to preserve historic sites, address treaty issues and respect the culture.
Visitors to New Zealand can observe, learn from and interact with the Māori community throughout the country, although many find it more convenient and more enjoyable to visit tourist areas and attractions which promote Māori culture. A few of these are listed below - related information is also available by clicking these links:
Māori Cultural Experiences for Visitors
North Island
Photographer: Ben Crawford
(www.bencrawford.co.nz)
Auckland – The Auckland Museum is a great place to find out more about New Zealand Māori with its Māori cultural performance recognised as one of the leading Māori cultural experiences in New Zealand. You can also learn about the hospitality, traditions and experiences of the local iwi (tribe) at the Te Hana Te Ao Marama marae (meeting house).
Rotorua - Rotorua is a particular favourite with visitors wanting to find out more about Māori culture. The area has been home to Māori tribes for over 300 years. Today, activities and attractions at various places in Rotorua include:
- Ceremonial rituals
- Re-enactments
- Cultural performance and storytelling
- Hangi meals
- Warriors in traditional dress paddling a waka (ancient war canoe)
- Arts and crafts
- Song and dance
Northland – Head up to the far north where you can learn about Māori history in the beautiful Hokianga Harbour. You can see carvings and tapestry, stay on a marae, learn to wave flax, make poi, perform the haka, sing our waiata (songs) and carve a simple taonga (treasure).
Whanganui – The Whanganui area has a rich cultural history and here you can experience a river trip much as the local Māori would have done in bygone years and stay on a river-side marae.
South Island
Christchurch – You can discover Tane Mahuta, Māori god of the forest in Christchurch and experience Ko Tane, a Māori cultural experience located at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. This includes a Pwohiri (traditional welcome) cultural performance, entertainment, Māori village and nature tour.
Timaru – Timaru is home to Te Ana Ngāi Tahu Rock Art Centre, an interactive tourism attraction housing the largest and most significant collection of Māori rock art in the world. The Timaru centre showcases the extraordinary art and explore the lives of its creators – the first artists who, about eight centuries ago, explored the forests and hills of New Zealand's South Island.
