The following is a small sample of the Maori cultural experiences around New Zealand. Opportunities to see, taste and hear the unique Maori culture of Aotearoa are a major attraction for international visitors seeking an authentic and meaningful New Zealand experience and there are many different types of experience to suit your clients’ tastes and itinerary. See the regional directory to find more.

Crossings Hokianga (Northland) Take a Hokianga Harbour boat cruise in the footsteps of Kupe, the legendary Maori explorer who was the first voyager to discover New Zealand over 1,000 years ago. www.crossingshokianga.co.nz

Culture North (Northland) Experience the vibrancy of Maori culture with the Culture North Night Show in the meeting house at the Waitangi Treaty grounds; a stirring evening light and sound show telling a story spanning 1,000 years. Other tours also available. www.culturenorth.co.nz

Footprints Waipoua (Northland) Join Footprints Waipoua on a spiritual journey into Northland’s Waipoua Forest to visit magnificent Kauri trees Te Matua Ngahere and Tane Mahuta and learn how they are intertwined with the lives of local Maori. www.footprintswaipoua.co.nz

Waitangi National Trust (Northland) Visitors can explore these historically significant grounds, the site where the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed. www.waitangi.net.nz

Auckland Museum (Auckland) Renowned for its extensive collection of Maori treasures, He Taonga Maori at the Auckland Museum is a must-see for any visitor to Auckland. www.aucklandmuseum.com

Mauao Tours (Bay of Plenty) Visitors can enjoy a guided tour of Mt Maunganui and a Maori interpretation of historic sites. www.mauaotours.co.nz

Paparoa Marae (Bay of Plenty) Experience warm hospitality, taste a traditional Maori meal (hangi) and enjoy the entertainment, phone +64 7 552 5904.

Mt Hikurangi Guided 4WD Tribal Tours (Eastland) Mt Hikurangi is the first place in mainland New Zealand to see the dawn. Visitors can enjoy a 4WD tour of the mountain guided by local Maori. www.ngatiporou.com

Waka Toa (Gisborne) An authentic encounter with Maori culture that weaves together the rich performance tradition of Maori and the history of a pa site. www.wakatoa.com

Matahiwi Marae (Hawke’s Bay) Visits to one of the oldest established Ngati Hawea marae in the region lets visitors learn about marae history and protocol, phone +64 6 870 0646.

Waimarama Maori Tourism (Hawke’s Bay) Visitors can learn about the history and traditions of the Maori people for a unique insight into their way of life. www.maoricultureandheritage.co.nz

Waitomo Glow Worm Caves (Waitomo) The Maori people have a long historic connection with these remarkable caves. Visitors can explore them with an underground walking tour or boat ride. www.waitomocaves.co.nz

Hells Gate and Wai Ora Spa (Rotorua) The healing waters and mud of Hells Gate have been used by Maori for more than 700 years and are now popular with all visitors. www.hellsgate.co.nz

Mitai (Rotorua) Spend an evening at Mitai for an authentic introduction to Maori culture. In a natural bush setting, visitors will witness warriors paddling a traditional waka, sample a hangi meal and watch a captivating cultural performance including the spine-tingling haka. www.mitai.co.nz

Te Puia (Rotorua) The Maori Arts and Crafts Institute enables visitors to see Maori artists at work and take a guided tour of local geothermal features. www.nzmaori.co.nz

The Buried Village (Rotorua) The volcanic eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886 destroyed the eighth wonder of the world – the Pink and White Terraces – and the Maori village of Te Wairoa. Today, visitors can explore the excavated village for a first-hand insight into this devastating event. www.buriedvillage.co.nz

The Mud Hut (Rotorua) Maori-style boutique accommodation offering guests the opportunity to appreciate Maori culture at their own pace. www.explore.maori.nz

The Rotorua Museum of Art & History (Rotorua) Visitors can experience the world of the local Te Arawa Maori people and the story of the Mt Tarawera eruption. www.rotoruamuseum.co.nz

Whakarewarewa Thermal Village (Rotorua) Visitors can join a tour and experience traditional Maori culture in an authentic living village. www.whakarewarewa.com

Haka World (Rotorua) Learn how to perform the Haka. www.hakaworld.com

PureORAwalks (Taupo) Visitors will experience spectacular scenery and native forest with cultural interpretations by Maori guides. www.pureorawalks.com

Wairakei Terraces (Taupo) Take part in a guided or self-guided tour of the Wairakei Terraces Walkway with its mud pools and geyser. Finish the experience with an evening of Maori culture and a tour of a living Maori village featuring carvers, weavers and tattooists. www.wairakeiterraces.co.nz

Parihaka (Taranaki) This historically significant village may be accessed by guided tour only. www.taranakinz.org

Puke Ariki (Taranaki) New Plymouth’s superb museum, visitor information centre and library complex is a great place for visitors to learn about Maori culture and traditions. www.pukeariki.com

Tui Global Maori Journeys (Taranaki) A unique experience that connects the landscape, stories and indigenous culture of New Zealand. www.tuiglobal.co.nz

Waka Tours (Wanganui) Visitors can experience an unforgettable three-day guided canoe trip down the Whanganui River, including overnight stays on riverside marae. www.whanganuiriver.co.nz

Flat Earth New Zealand Experiences (Wellington) Luxury day tours introduce guests to Wellington’s art and culture. www.flatearth.co.nz

Taonga MataOra (Wellington) Te Papa offers distinctive contemporary cuisine complemented by dynamic Maori and Pacific Island cultural performances (Wednesdays during summer). www.taongamataora.com

Te Papa (Wellington) The superb national museum of New Zealand is an excellent place for visitors to learn more about Maori culture and history. www.tepapa.govt.nz

Maori Tours Kaikoura (Kaikoura) Guided tours by local Maori introduce visitors to the region’s rich cultural history. www.maoritours.co.nz

Katoro Waka Heritage Journeys (Christchurch) Paddle a maori war canoe and listen to tribal stories. www.katoro.co.nz

Ko Tane – The Maori Experience (Christchurch) Visitors can enjoy a Maori cultural experience and explore a replica village while being entertained by Maori performers. www.kotane.co.nz

Te Hikoi – Southern Journey (Southland) A cultural heritage museum offering an engaging and informative snapshot of early New Zealand bicultural heritage. www.tehikoi.co.nz

Kiwi Haka (Queenstown) A unique live show performed by Queenstown’s leading kapa haka group, at the top of the Skyline Gondola. www.skyline.co.nz

Tamaki Heritage Experiences (Nationwide) Enjoy an evening of traditional Maori food and cultural performance in Rotorua or Christchurch. www.maoriculture.co.nz