Maori culture
Early Te Arawa Poi DancersImage courtesy of Rotorua Museum
Rotorua, the heartland of New Zealand's Maori culture. Enveloping warmth, a proud spirit, a deep sense of history and a quick humour - you'll find all these qualities in your experiences with Maori culture. It's a sensation we call manaakitanga.
The Arawa people of Rotorua were New Zealand's first visitor guides, leading the way to the natural wonders that have been part of their home for more than 600 years. Their welcoming tradition has been carried on from generation to generation - something visitors will find expressed with true warmth and energy in Rotorua.
A modern Maori cultural performing groupBe spellbound by stories relayed through song, dance and art. Legends passed on through the years transform the handiwork of two sisters of the spirit world, carrying fire to their frozen and dying brother, into the geothermal energy that abounds in Rotorua today. The 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera, now a sleeping giant, is steeped in fascinating and mysterious tales. Stories of overpowering love, of tragedy and of the mythical taniwha will enchant and thrill readers.
Opportunities to come face to face with Maori culture abound in Rotorua ; in performances and in expertly conceived displays, and in encounters with the descendants of the original Te Arawa tribes who made Rotorua their home.
Early photograph of cooking in a local hot pool, probably posed for a 'tourist' photographerImage courtesy of Rotorua Museum
The warm spirit of this living culture will captivate and enthrall - experience it here in Rotorua.
The Maori people were the first inhabitants of the district. Although predominantly from the Arawa tribe, other iwi (tribes) are now strongly represented in the district. The earliest Maori villages in the area, around which modern urban Rotorua is based, were situated within close proximity to geothermal sites, including Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa. Although the Maori community is now predominantly urban, there are around 35 marae (meeting grounds) in the Rotorua district, at least 20 of which are situated in rural areas. The Maori communities culture and traditions have a very significant influence in the region, and are of major interest to visitors.
Today many Maori people are actively involved with keeping their culture and language alive. Within any Maori community, the marae provides a focus for social, cultural and spiritual life. The term marae describes a communal 'plaza' area that includes a wharenui (meeting house) and wharekai (dining room).
Maori people define themselves by their iwi (tribe), hapu (sub-tribe), maunga (mountain) and awa (river). Whanau is the name given to family - the term embraces immediate family, in-laws and all those connected by blood ties.
Ihenga was the man who discovered Rotorua. Ihenga was out hunting for delicacies for his pregnant wife, when one of his dogs disappeared chasing a kiwi. He returned some time later with his coat wet and 'threw up' a meal of half digested fish. Ihenga realised he was near water, so he searched until he came across Lake Rotoiti and later, Lake Rotorua.
Te Arawa people moved inland and settled in the Rotorua and Taupo areas. Rich and magical tribal stories relate to the settlement, the history and developments of these Arawa tribes. They are woven into the songs, haka and poi featuring in cultural performances in the area.
An early photograph of the Pink and White Terraces
Image courtesy of Rotorua Museum
Maori people have hosted visitors as far back as the 19th Century when from all over the world, people would come to see the Pink and White Terraces at Lake Rotomahana. These were known as the eighth wonder of the world because of the elaborate beauty of these natural sinter formations. Many paintings, photographs and descriptions were made of the terraces. Ferdinand von Hochsetter wrote of Te Tarata - the White Terrace: 'It is as if a waterfall plunging over the steps had suddenly been transformed to stone'.
However the Pink and White Terraces were lost in 1886 when Mt Tarawera erupted. It killed more than 150 people most of whom were Maori. After the eruption, the people of the nearby village, Te Wairoa moved away. There was nothing to keep them there, the land was covered in mud and most houses were submerged. Since the 1930s the site has been gradually excavated, and now thousands upon thousands come each year to the Buries Village for a glimpse at life which has been frozen in time.
This information has been shared and sourced from the people of Te Arawa and
should be respected as their cultural and intellectual property.
Not for commercial reproduction without express permission.
