Maori Culture
Welcome to Ao-tea-roa, Land of the Long White Cloud, commonly know as New Zealand.
This is the homeland of an ancient Polynesian people, the Maori, who made epic journeys in waka hourua (voyaging canoes) from their Pacific Island origins to reach these shores over 1000 years ago. The rich and diverse cultural heritage of the Maori people is an integral part of New Zealand life. Unlike so many cases where European colonisers spared no regard for other cultures, the New Zealand story is largely one of partnership. In 1840, in the Northland settlement of Waitangi, Maori signed an historic treaty with the British Crown. The spirit of tolerance and justice remains an important aspect of the New Zealand identity, even as the finer points of what this means are healthily debated.
Today the Maori people make up over fourteen percent of the population and their culture influences life in New Zealand in many different ways. Visitors to New Zealand will find many opportunities to experience Maori culture first-hand. Those interested in exploring the nation's history should include a visit to Waitangi in the Bay of Islands, where the Treaty was originally signed. At the Waitangi National Trust Estate you can see the Treaty House, as well as a fully carved Maori Meeting House and one of the world's largest Maori War Canoes.
Over the centuries before European colonisation, Maori developed a unique and complex social structure. Tradition and history play an important part in this culture. Because the Maori people had no written language, they preserved their past through spoken stories. Visitors can experience the spellbinding magic of the Maori tradition in many places around the country, but Rotorua, in the central North Island, is particularly well known for the cultural experiences it offers. Here, visitors can enjoy a Maori powhiri (welcome), visit local marae (meeting grounds) and listen to kapa haka (traditional performances of song and dance). They can also take part in a hangi, the cooking of traditional kai (food) on hot stones in an underground oven.
In addition to these cultural experiences, it is possible to take part in all kinds of trips with Maori guides, ranging from hunting and horse trekking to white water rafting, amidst regions with particular historical significance - a chance for a unique cultural insight. Walking ancient trails through magnificent rainforests, over rivers and streams, and along shoreline and coastal cliffs is another wonderful way to understand the history of New Zealand and the Maori. No matter where in New Zealand your travel commences, you'll find that information centres, libraries and museums will happily assist your introduction to the Maori culture.
Maori - Pacific Treasures
Weaving and carving - in wood, bone and greenstone - are an important Maori tradition and magnificent examples of he taonga Maori (Maori treasures) can be seen at museums and galleries throughout New Zealand. Auckland Museum houses the most significant collection of Maori and Pacific treasures in New Zealand. He Taonga Maori, the Maori Treasures Gallery, displays over 2,000 priceless Maori treasures, including rare carvings and the last great Maori war canoe used in battle. And while you're here, experience Maori hospitality by joining Manaia in a lively performance of song, dance and stories. Their compelling show gives an insight into Maori tradition, genealogy and spirituality. Performances three times daily. Admission charges apply.
Apart from admiring traditional artworks, you'll also have the chance to purchase your own. At the Maori tribal settlement of Waiwhetu in Lower Hutt is the Maori Treasures complex, where you can see artists-in-residence weaving, sculpting, carving and potting. The Arts Centre in Christchurch is another place where you can visit the studios of those practicing traditional Maori arts.
Recommended readings for an insight into Maori culture:
The Penguin History of New Zealand by Michael King (Penguin Books, Auckland, 2003)
The Rough Guide to Maori New Zealand (Rough Guides / Tourism New Zealand, with National Maori Tourism Network, New Zealand Historic Places Trust, Air New Zealand and Tailor Made Travel (UK)
The Story of a Treaty by Claudia Orange (Allen & Unwin, Wellington, 1989)