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Maori cultural experiencesThermal plateau cultureThe thermal plateau, with its notably richcultural ties, is a superb place for discoveringsome of the fascinating Maori legends andtraditions. Te Puia, a complex on the outskirtsof Rotorua, comprises the Maori Arts andCrafts Institute and WhakarewarewaGeothermal Valley, as well as staging manyexcellent cultural performances. At the Artsand Crafts Institute visitors can watch studentslearning ancient skills which are in danger ofbeing forgotten and at Whakarewarewa youwill experience the natural wonder of thisexciting, erupting landscape of boiling mudpools and spectacular geysers and theirsignificance in Maori tribal history.Maori woodcarving, Te Puia, Rotoruaculture with different facets of modern Kiwilifestyle. In Auckland, the Urban MaoriExperience utilises city, forest and beachlocations to pass on ancestral knowledge in aninnovative and memorable day out. In contrast,out on the remote East Cape you can relivethe legend of the Maori ancestor Paikea, astory which was brought to international famein the film Whale Rider. In the Hawke’s Bayregion, local guide Sophie Kebbell has built upa network of Maori contacts who open theirdoors to her and her guests, sharing theirstories and their crafts, which she combineswith her insight into the local wineries, gourmetfoods and art deco heritage of the area tocreate a fascinating tour.Mitai Maori VillageSituated on the edge of Rotorua, thefamily-run Mitai Maori Village offers excellentcultural displays and the opportunity toexperience a hangi (feast). A visit consists of apowhiri (a formal welcome), traditional songsand dances, and a weaponry display bytalented local performers with Maori historyand legends relayed through their stories andsongs. This entertaining and educationalintroduction is followed by an impressive,traditionally-cooked hangi – chicken, lamb,kumara and potato cooked in an undergroundoven – accompanied by fresh salads andtraditional breads.Mount TaraweraStanding sentinel over the crater lakes, MountTarawera is the highest peak in the area and issacred to the local Maori. A massive eruptionMaori carving on display in Rotoruain 1886 destroyed the picturesque pink andwhite terraces of crystallising silica that hadbecome an early visitor attraction but eventoday the region is simply astounding. Localguides provide insight into Maori legend andvolcanology and add depth to any visit, whilethe nearby Whirinaki and Pureora Forests offeran ancient and spiritual backdrop to the Maorilove of storytelling, experiential learning andenvironmental sensitivity.Further Maori experiencesFurther afield, a variety of contrastingexperiences is available integrating MaoriA number of other Maori cultural experiencesare outlined within the relevant sections ofthis brochure, including Footprints Waipoua(page 17) and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds(page 15).Hongi, a traditional Maori greetingwww.audleytravel.com/newzealand l 01993 838 820 l North Island 23