New Zealand Maori and their culture and traditions are unique to New Zealand. If you are interested in learning more about Maori culture while you are here in New Zealand we can organize a number of different activities that showcase Maori culture and their people. If you intend on visiting both the North and South Island's, a stopover in Rotorua (North Island) is a must.

Rotorua is the cultural home to New Zealand Maori and is set amongst a geothermal wonderland. We definitely recommend a visit to Te Puia - an ancestral Maori village built around gushing geysers and bubbling mudpools. Here you can watch Maori dance (kapa haka) performances and also view master craftsmen carving traditional wooden poles and Maori women weaving traditional flax garments.

In the South Island there are also a number of Maori culture shows on offer in Christchurch, Kaikoura and Queenstown.

Many Maori words are now used in everyday Kiwi language including 'pakeha' = white person, 'kiaora' = hello, 'puku' = stomach, 'kai' = food, 'whanau' = family, 'hui' = meeting, 'moana' = ocean, plus many native birds are called by their familiar Maori name eg kiwi, kaka, tui, pukeko, etc.