Discovery of Maori Culture.

At Kiwipal, we are sometimes contacted by people who wish to spend a night in an authentic Maori village (sic).

The question is quite absurd! Imagine a New Zealand tourist asking for a night in Asterix's village...

Of course, the Maori of New Zealand no longer live in huts, and they no more wear loincloth since centuries.

The clichés are still alive apparently, but there is also a lack of knowledge of the cultures of the Pacific.

One must acknowledge that some Maori have developed real slot machines with these kinds of folk spectacles. Is it nonetheless a tourist attraction that undermines the image of an entire community, as it is sometimes said? Or is it a tourist compromise that finally arranges everyone?

It is true that this alleged encounter with an ancestral culture is sometimes embarrassing. A few years ago, a New Zealand newspaper had revealed a scandal and shameful practices, highlighting the presence of dancers without any Maori ancestry. Authenticity is not exactly what you get with these shows.

Are there any performances that worth the price? Should you persist in considering them as true cultural spectacles? And most of all, should you attend a show during your stay in New Zealand? I will try to answer all these questions honestly. You will see that if there are reasons to criticize, reality is finally quite balanced and some shows are quite nice and can be envisaged.

The famous Te Papa of Wellington and the Auckland War Memorial deliver Maori dance performances that are staged with elegance, while being pedagogical without being boring.

Alongside this “noble” culture, there are countless shows (often including dinner), mostly concentrated in the region of Rotorua.

Let's put it straight: we are talking about folkloric shows whose equivalent exist on the entire Earth.

We would be very pretentious to look at them with contempt. Some activities are rather aesthetically pleasing.

If the organizers can be blamed for a certain exaggeration when they claim to be “authentic” and “cultural”, the audience is rarely deceived.

There are, of course, some black sheep giving Haka demonstrations executed by warriors worn out by a real work in the chain.

When the dance shows are held in the common house “Marae”, the tradition requires that you take off your shoes before entering.

You can easily imagine the smell of a hundred feet after a day spent exploring the region. The experience is not pleasant if you see what I mean…

But let's put aside these bad shows that tarnish the image of the country. Let's talk instead of the “Tamaki Maori Village”, which among all organizers seems to provide honorable performances, even if you should also visit a good

Note that if I recommend (in a way) the “Tamaki Maori Village”, I might as well suggest the rather similar “Mitai Village” or “Te Puia” which has the advantage of being also a geothermal park during the day-time.

This is folklore, indeed, but effective folklore, provided that this kind of show is made for you, and that's exactly what we are going to check together.

“Tamaki Maori Village” proposes a spectacle for every public, refined in its smallest details.

The evening is punctuated by a dinner with a buffet to make you discover Maori cuisine and the famous Hangi.

Apart from families, the show attracts mostly seniors. The young people are often here in spite of themselves (especially because they booked their trip with a travel agency) are usually quite embarrassed by the very touristy atmosphere.

Children generally enjoy the demonstrations of Haka and the most folkloric parts (village, dances).

They are sometimes bored during dinner, which is no surprise, although the choice of desserts often delights them.

If your trip is too short to allow visits of museums, you may consider having a late afternoon punctuated by a dinner at Tamaki.

It may not be the best cultural experience, but it will provide an insight into the daily life and customs of the first inhabitants of the country.

On the other hand, if you have some time to spend, you should consider visiting the Rotorua Museum which contains a collection of remarkable treasures. You will discover many Maoris legends and the true story of the heroes who died in the trenches of Verdun 20,000 km from their homeland.

Moreover, during many activities in New Zealand, the majority of the guides evoke Maori legends.

You will have the opportunity to nibble pieces of culture throughout the stay without having to “undergo” a dinner show that does not enchant you.

For those who wish to participate in the discovery of Tamaki Maori Village (the best of its kind), I will present the evening in detail and you will be in a better position to make your choice.

Expect $110 per adult and between $20 to $60 depending on the age of your children (5-9 years or 10-15 years). On the other hand, children under four enter the village free of charge. The “Waka”, which means, “the journey”, sounds somewhat pretentious when it refers to a bus ride to the Rotorua Forest. The guide who will officiate during every visit summarizes the “protocol” to be respected when entering a Maori fortified village.

It's a typical group tour atmosphere! (you love or you hate), with the designation of a “tribal chief” among the visitors for the needs of the “Powhiri”: Maori warriors come to meet the group and perform a Haka.

Follow the welcome dance and the guided tour of a village reconstituted to appear as it was before the arrival of the Westerners. It is the occasion to observe the daily life of a clan amidst the fires lighted between the huts.

Warrior training for men, linen work for women. All in an atmosphere punctuated by songs.

Probably the best part of the visit. Tamaki Maori Village: Traditional Hangi.

The cooking has never been the strong point of the Kiwis, whose diet is a mix of American and English cooking, hyper caloric...

Fortunately, Rotorua is one of the few areas in New Zealand where you can enjoy a traditional healthy meal.

The Hangi is not something one can improvise.

Food is packed in aluminum foil (formerly canvas bags), then placed in a hole previously covered with a bed of embers with a thin layer of earth and volcanic stones.

Hangi-cooked foods have an inimitable smoky taste. In addition to being healthy, this cooking sublimates the flavors of lamb, chicken and kumara (a sweet potato from New Zealand).

Those who are attentive to explanations will remember that the Hangi cooking lasts from 4 to 6 hours. Logically, the meal prepared in front of you won't be ready to be served for the dinner...

To accompany the dinner, you can taste some “Rewana”, a recipe of Maori bread, and various green or pasta-based salads. Tasty Green Giant Mussels from New Zealand are worth a try if you've never tasted some before.

Do not wait too long if you want to taste the Pavlova, which the national dessert made of meringue and fresh fruit.

Do not forget that drinks (including alcohol) are not included in the price and are charged separately.

Nothing prevents you from sharing the note with friends or with other guests.

The visit of the “tribal market” comes at the late evening, while you wait for the return shuttle.

Fortunately, you can also listen to Maori legends, if the purchase of memories with uncertain geographical origin (china?) hardly tempts you.

The farewell ceremony “Poroporoaki”" ends the visit of Tamaki Maori Village.

After a short speech, you will return to your hotel in Rotorua. Now, it's time to discuss about the quality of the evening, and the opinions are usually balanced.

These tours are aiming especially families and seniors who are not exhausted by a day of hiking.

These are participants who appreciate the experience, especially when traveling in groups. Consequently, one must be a little indulgent.

Commercial success is obviously not a guarantee of quality, but it nevertheless imposes a minimum of effort, the public not being fooled when he pays. And if I must believe the rave reviews on the main tourist portals and communities of travelers, the public appreciates.

The question is whether or not you belong to this audience?

If you are young and the atmosphere does not attract you, you should pass your turn because there are great chances for you to be disappointed. Alternatively, you can be tempted if you have a free schedule and nothing to lose.

The atmosphere is pleasant, the decorations are very well done (I'm thinking of the “Tamaki Maori village”, because other places are frankly disappointing).

The dinner is good and plentiful, which is already enough to have a good evening.

I overheard a conversation once from a traveler who was angry after seeing one of the dancers dressed in jeans after the show. He had the feeling that he had been deceived because he believed he was in an authentic Maori village! An anecdote, which illustrates the ambiguity of these “cultural” shows.

Let's be crystal clear: these shows are not highly cultural ones but they are quite “popular” which is not an insult. Of course, this may be inappropriate for some of you, sometimes enough to leave an unpleasant memory.

But I would be curious to hear your opinion on the matter.

And if you hesitate, the best is probably to forge your own opinion. Feel free to contact us or ask your questions to Ben the Kiwi!