Maori Cultural Experiences in New Zealand

Maori culture is at the heart of what makes New Zealand special and the Maori influence can be seen and felt throughout the country. There are many opportunities for visitors to learn more about Maori culture through a range of interactive experiences.

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For those looking for a profound spiritual adventure, on the North Island, 250 km north of Auckland in the Bay of Islands region, you will find Omapere – an area known for the 2,500-year-old Waipoua Forest. At Footprints Waipoua, guests experiencing the Twilight Encounter join a local Maori guide, deep in the forest. They greet the old-growth kauri trees with spine-tingling and moving songs and learn about the creatures that inhabit the forest and the plants Maori used for medicinal purposes. The price for the Twilight Encounter is $95 NZD for adults and $35 NZD for children ($86 and $32 CAD). Te Hana, a Maori cultural centre just a one-hour drive north of Auckland, offers guests the chance to travel back in time just by walking through its doors. The Maori village provides visitors with unique 17th century insights into pre-European Maori life. Led by a guide, visitors experience authentic Maori events such as a powhiri (a traditional welcome ceremony), they tour the village, and learn by first-hand experience and participation about Maori culture. There is also the opportunity to taste the foods cooked in traditional Maori style. As an added bonus, visitors can stay overnight in the marae (a sacred Maori meeting area). The price for a guided tour of Te Hana is $36 NZD for adults and $14.50 NZD for children ($33 and $13 CAD). Staying overnight in the marae starts at $150 NZD for adults $70 NZD for children ($136 and $64 CAD). It’s not often that you can take a cooking lesson that involves foraging in the forest like the Maori people did hundreds of years ago. Near Rotorua, on the North Island, you can experience this adventure in luxury at award-winning Treetops Lodge & Estate with their Wild Food Cooking Experience – Maori Food Trail or, for a more budget-friendly option, with well-known Maori chef Charles Royal and his Soda Springs Food Tour. Both experiences offer the opportunity to spend time learning about Maori culture and cuisine with knowledgeable Maori chefs. Along with foraging in the forest, guests enjoy a fabulous lunch, seasoned with the herbs and plants that they have found in the forest. The Treetops Wild Food Cooking Experience is $345 NZD ($312 CAD). The Wild Food Tour with Charles Royal is $250 NZD ($226 CAD).