Māori Culture

Haere mai (welcome) to the birthplace of Māori tourism.
 

Rotorua is the best place in New Zealand to experience the traditional customs, practices and beliefs of our indigenous Māori people.
 
Awe-inspiring and authentic, Māori cultural tours and performances provide a special view into the historic lifestyle, traditions, mythology, art, entertainment and more of Māori past and present. Watch a spine-tingling traditional pōhiri (welcoming ceremony), hear the hauntingly beautiful call of the kuia (female elder), learn to dance with poi or perform the haka. Watch as your dinner is pulled from a traditional hāngī (steam-cooked meal) straight out of the ground.
 
Guided walking tours through a historic living Māori village give you personal insight and history of the people who’ve inhabited this geothermal area for more than 200 years. Today nearly two dozen families live in this village and continue to utilise the same geothermal resource as their ancestors.
 
Bespoke half-day tours of historic locations throughout Rotorua provide in-depth lifestyle, history and mythology lessons.
 
No matter the options you choose, you’ll be richer for the experience.

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Showing 12 out of 16.
Buried Village of Te Wairoa

Māori Culture, East

New Zealand’s most-visited archaeological site where stories of the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption come to life.

Hamurana Springs Nature Reserve

Māori Culture

Discover the beauty of Hamurana Springs at your own pace or be guided by a descendant of the Ngāti Rangiwewehi people who first migrated to the area in the mid-1300s. Enjoy the stunning natural elements and cultural stories that make this such a magical place.

Hell's Gate Geothermal Park & Mud Spa

Māori Culture, East

Hell’s Gate is Rotorua’s most active geothermal reserve and New Zealand’s only mud spa complex.

Totally Tarawera

Māori Culture

Guided cultural and geothermal tours to Te Rātā Bay and Hot Water Beach, including a natural hot pool soak.

Mitai Māori Village

Māori Culture

By entering the world of Mitai Māori Village you will embrace the history and culture of our people through the migration story of our ancestors, the Ngāti Ohomairangi people who voyaged across the Pacific Ocean more than 2,000 years ago and arrived in New Zealand.

Ōhinemutu Māori Village

Māori Culture

Connect with the culture, people, history and landscape that have made Rotorua the incredible place it is today.

Rotorua Museum: Outside the Walls Historical Government Gardens Tours

Māori Culture

Discover Rotorua's rich culture, volatile landscape and legendary figures in this must-do FREE tour around the famous Rotorua Museum and Government Gardens.

Te Pā Tū

Māori Culture

Journey into the heart of Māori culture, an experience you will never forget!

Te Puia

Māori Culture

Discover one of New Zealand’s most magnificent geothermal wonderlands and Māori cultural centres.

Whakarewarewa - The Living Māori Village

Māori Culture

Home of the Tuhourangi and Ngāti Wahiao people and located on a geothermal plateau, Whakarewarewa Village is New Zealand’s oldest continuous Māori tourism experience, even pre-dating the world-famous Pink and White Terraces.

Ahu Boutique - Adrienne Whitewood

Māori Culture, Central

Inspired by Māori art and culture, Adrienne Whitewood takes traditional concepts and invents unique silhouettes exploring fabric manipulation and technology. Her ethos is about creating wearable clothing for women who want an emotional connection to what they're wearing. All designed right here in Rotorua.

Mountain Jade

Māori Culture, Central

Discover the art of carving jade during a guided tour of a greenstone studio. Meet local artists as they craft jade by hand, and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and atmosphere of a carving workshop.