People & Culture
Come to New Zealand to meet the people….friendly, witty, kind and laid-back. Those are just a few of the adjectives that describe Kiwi’s. From the Maori population to the emigrants from England, Scotland and Ireland, you’ll find Kiwi’s are all basically the same. Always ready with a smile and a friendly invitation to enjoy their hospitality first hand. Come experience it for yourself!
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Spirit of a Living Culture – that best describes Rotorua, where you’ll find Maori arts and crafts and villages, as well as an adventure playground with endless thrill, leisure and sporting options. Visit the thermal village of Whakarewarewa and watch Maori carvers at work, see Tamaki Maori Village and enjoy a traditional hangi dinner, or just relax in the Polynesian Spa among the many thermally heated pools. Rotorua is a chance to experience the Maori culture first hand.
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There’s no better way to get to know the New Zealand people than by staying in their homes. Most early settlers came over from Britain and soon realized what a rich agricultural opportunity had been presented. Today you can stay on a real working New Zealand farm and experience the warm and friendly Kiwi hospitality that is known through the world.
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Maui was a demi-god who lived in Hawaiiki. He possessed magic that not all his family knew about. One day when he was very young he hid in the bottom of his brothers’ boat to go fishing. Once at sea, he was discovered but they were not able to take him back to shore as he used his magic to make the shoreline seem further away. So the brothers continued rowing and once they were far out, Maui dropped his magic fishhook over the side of the waka (boat). After a while he felt a strong tug and asked his brothers for help. After much straining and pulling, up suddenly surfaced Te Ika a Maui (fish of Maui), known today as the North Island. The South Island is known as Te Waka a Maui (the waka of Maui) and Stewart Island, which lies at the very bottom of New Zealand, is known as Te Punga a Maui (Maui’s anchor), as it was the anchor holding Maui’s waka as he pulled in the giant fish.
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The Maori word for white people, Pakehas began settling in New Zealand from Britain and Ireland in the 1800’s, with large numbers arriving between 1840 and 1860. They settled in and began farming and raising sheep, bringing Western customs and sports such as rugby and cricket with them. The late 1800’s saw a huge influx of Scottish migrants, most of them settling in Otago and Southland. Today you can still see the Scottish influence in the architecture and customs of such towns as Dunedin and Invercargill
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Traditional Maori crafts include weaving, carving and te moko (tattooing) so you get the added bonus of an art-rich indigenous culture to explore as you explore the country itself. You can find paua shell jewelry, as well as silver and pewter jewelry and artifacts. From painting, to sculpture, to textiles and ceramics, you’ll find the Maori and pakehas are as inventive and skillful in the arts and crafts as they are in other endeavors.
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