Comments on: A Look at Maori Culture

By: kash

kash — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:13:51 +0000

i love that place

By: kritika

kritika — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:05:32 +0000

Maori people are the great people and new zealand is a very good place

By: Maori Poi

Maori Poi — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 19:43:19 +0000

Maori cultural tours are yet in my wishlist. These people have great history and culture. Thank you for sharing your experience.

By: Martina Mc Auley

Martina Mc Auley — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:53:31 +0000

Hi, yes, I agree with kiwitravelwriter. Maori tours in Kaikoura are great. I know it was Jan 2010 when he posted that comment and you’ve probably been there since but I found it a very good tour and not so touristy. It goes a bit more indepth into their culture and it’s a family run business. Well recommended.

By: Cate

Cate — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:05:11 +0000

Maori culture like any other indigenous culture (including North American Indians) has its roots deep in tradition and can only best understood by reading, listening and talking with Maori. I’ve studied their culture and worked with them for many years and am still learning.
If you want to learn about their culture look at books that are written by Maori (not White anthropolgists) that talk about their taonga – treasure. Art, songs, dances, language, medicine, spirtuality beliefs and differences in clans (hapu, iwi) and the impact the Treaty of Waitangi.
Going to a show will give you a glimpse but it doesn’t go further then that.
Try this link if you haven’t done so already: http://www.maori.org.nz/
If you want to read an adult story one of the better ones written is The Bone People by Kerry Hulme.

By: Erica

Erica — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:51:33 +0000

This post reminds me of an essay I wrote on Maori culture in middle school. And “Whale Rider” is one of the best films ever made. I loved the acting by the girl who played Paikea.

By: Heather on her travels

Heather on her travels — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:18:06 +0000

that’s a facinating video although it’s more of an entertainment it still gives a nicely packaged insight into maori life.

By: Sarah Lavender Smith

Sarah Lavender Smith — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:47:22 +0000

Go to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands region of the North Island! It has a wealth of Maori culture and Maori-British history, and a great cultural show. Also, our family was impressed with the Maori wing of the Auckland War Memorial Museum. For pics and details, you can search the New Zealand category of our blog. Thanks for all your great NZ posts!
- Sarah
http://away-together.com – “One family, one year, many places, no regrets”
currently on the West Coast of the South Island in NZ

By: Hugh

Hugh — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:04:28 +0000

This post reminds me of my serendipitous encounter with Maori culture back in 2002. I was studying in Sydney at the time when 8 of us decided to fly to Auckland, rent a camper-van, and drive around the North Island for a week. We hit Rotorua and the Bay of Islands, and while driving one day, we got lost and found ourselves pretty much in the middle of the Waitangi Day Parade (The Waitangi Treaty is NZ’s founding document). We ended up parking and joining in the festivities for the day. We still laugh about it to this day.

Enjoy the rest of your travels in NZ!

By: Shawn

Shawn — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:07:54 +0000

Hey Matt, have you seen the movie “once were warriors”? Released around 1995.

Be kind of interesting to compare the culture to the accuracy to the movie. When you visit with people maybe ask about the movie, I would be interested you their opinion.

Happy trails