Whether it’s foraging for flora and fauna in the wild whilst discovering the natural world of the Māori and their spiritual values, connecting with your mauri (life force) and wairua (spirit) through traditional Māori massage, taking part in an interactive experience of traditional Māori songs and kapa haka (performance), or discovering the giant and evocative Mine Bay Māori rock carving that tells the story of the great Māori high priest Ngātoroirangi, you will leave Taupō having connected with local people and local stories.
Discover more about the heritage of Ngāti Tūwharetoa at the Taupō Museum, as well as viewing a mighty 15m waka crafted from a single totara log.
You can also visit some of New Zealand’s most significant Maori pā sites (fortified villages) where you can learn about the history of the famous Ka Mate Haka at Opotaka Historic Reserve or discover the site where the last major engagement of the New Zealand Wars was fought in 1869 at Te Porere Redoubt.
Embark on your own special journey into the culture, local history, manaakitanga (hospitality), kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and kai (food) of this region.
