If you want to learn about the Māori people in New Zealand, then Rotorua is the place to be. There are different Māori villages in the area which you can explore.
We decided to visit the Mitai Maori village where we were introduced to the Māori culture. This village is located in the bush where you can even spot glow worms at night. At Mitai village we had an authentic traditional Māori experience. We were very happy at the end of our tour as we now know so much more about the Māori people. Our kids loved it and it was a great homeschooling experience for them :-)
How the evening looked like and what we learned at the Māori Experience in Rotorua.
1. Introduction to Māori
Our evening started in the dining area where we were welcomed and introduced to the Māori culture. They explained that the Māori people came in seven canoes from Polynesia between 2000 and 700 years ago and arrived at Bay of Plenty. They saw a big white cloud in the distance and named this piece of land: “Aotearoa” (The land of the long white cloud). This name only refers to the Northern Island of New Zealand. The southern island was named “Te Waipounamu” (water and greenstone).
Māori people had their own unique language with many of dialects, depending on which village they came from. This language is an official language in New Zealand since 1985 and you might be surprised to see many street signs in English and Mãori.
After the introduction we had an official opening ceremony where one guest was called to be the chief of the evening, representing all guests. We received a warm welcome, including a dance and we actually had to sing a song ourselves to show our goodwill. It was a nice opening ritual which you have to experience yourself. No photos or videos were permitted during this opening ceremony. We were allowed to record during other parts of the evening as you can see in the photo's in this blog.
2. Fascial tattoo
You can recognise Maori people on their fascial tattoos. These tattoos are extremely important for Maori’s as they are personal identification card. The comparison of a mans’ tattoos was made with a CV, because the more tattoos on the face, the higher the rank. For men, the tattoo showed their accomplishments, skills and status. Women would only get a tattoo on their lips and chin, representing the women’s connection to the family and het leadership role within the community.
People who are not Maori’s are not ‘allowed’ to have the fascial tattoo. Even if you are married to a Māori, it does not mean you are part of the same culture. If a foreigner marries a Māori and they get a child, then the child will be a true Maroi as then it has the blood of its ancestors.
The Maori tattoos are very personal and would be applied as from 12 years of age.
3. Hangi meal
The reason we choose for the Mitai village is because of their authentic Māori experience, which also includes a hangi meal. And we definitely wanted to try this ourselves. Hangi is the traditional New Zealand method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven, called an umu. Nowadays, the hangi meals are prepared for larger groups on special occasions, and this evening it was prepared for us.
We had read some negative reviews about the hangi meals at Rotorua, saying that the meals where not prepared underground, but in normal ovens.
We can honestly say that we truly believe the meal was prepared in the traditional way and underground, because we have seen it with our own eyes (picture above). We could also taste the earthy flavours in the chicken and potatoes. Yes, there were other foods on the buffet which were definitely not prepared underground, but they weren’t meant to. So, what you see underground is what you get.
The meal included a selection of lamb, chicken, (sweet) potatoes, and stuffing (combination of bread, mixed herbs, carrots and peas). There was also a wide selection of desserts, including tropical fruit salad, chocolate log, pavlova, and steamed pudding with custard.
Pavlova
About the pavlova… Pavlova is considered a New Zealand national dish. And yes, there is a lot of confusion with the Russian Pavlova… but the first recorded recipe from Pavlova was from 1927 in Davis Daintry Dishes, published by the Davis Gelatine Company in New Zealand. It is believed to be named in honour of the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova who visited the country in 1920.
Anyway, please try this dessert as we all loved it! We do not even like meringue, but this refreshing dessert seems to have it all and feels pretty light to us..
4. Games and practice
During the impressive performance, they also showed us different games Māori people played and workouts they did, to keep their bodies and mind strong.
The games looked pretty simple, but we doubt whether they were simple at all..
One of them included throwing wooden sticks from one person to the other or within a group. The other person had to catch that stick and then continue throwing it. There was also a game with balls on a cord whereas the balls should be turned around and around in different directions. All these games would have a positive influence on the coordination, strength and flexibility of different joints and muscle groups. All necessary skills when going to war.
They also showed us their different weapons and how they used them. Their speed and strength was unbelievable! Good to know, that the Māori people used to eat people in the past, but gladly they do not do that anymore ;-)
5. Haka
The Haka dance is probably the most famous dance in relation to the Māori people. This is the dance which they performed before going to war. The scary eyes and the tongues all out are definitely impressing!
Nowadays the dance is performed to motivate themselves or others for energies before any type of performance. It is quite impressive to experience the very high level of energy in this dance.
Not-Maori people are welcome to perform this dance as well, as long as they have the right intention to do so. If they also want to spread positive vibes, then it is all good. If they mess us, then the Maori people will literally laugh their asses off… So don’t be afraid for cultural appropriation 😉 Most of the time the energy in the dance cannot be performed by people who are not Maori’s as it also requires a certain spiritual connection with their ancestors.
6. How Maori people live nowadays
Nowadays the Maori people are not living as they used to in the past. They enjoy the modern technology like every one of us and you can find them everywhere around New Zealand. They do still have a sacred connection with their tribe and ancestors, and they like to share their traditions, habits and rituals with other people.
So, if you are in the neighbourhood you can explore their culture and traditions.
We surely recommend it, because we had a great night an learned a lot about this foreign culture.
7. The end of the tour
After dinner we were taken out into the bushes to see the sacred fairy Spring, that releases over twenty four million liters of pure spring water every day.
In the darkness you can even spot the glow worms in their natural setting, living only in Mitai village. They make a spectacular scene to the beautiful stream that flows through the village and bush.
Back in the dining area our guide took the time to answer all the questions we still had and he made sure all of them were answered.
8. Closing
Our kids loved the entire evening and even tried most of the Hangi meal, so this tour is definitely a bucket list item for families. We cannot say anything about the other Māori villages around Rotorua, but we do feel that whatever you choose, you will receive an authentic Māori experience as this is the place where it all began…
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