Picture of Te Puia
Caption: The Māori Village • R O T O R U A •
Picture of Te Puia
Caption: The Māori, are the indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand), and their culture is an integral part of life in New Zealand.
During our time in New Zealand, my parents and I visited the Te Puia Māori Village, to get a deeper understanding of the Māori culture & history.
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Caption: First a pōwhiri (welcome ceremony) was performed at the entrance of the marae (Māori meeting house).
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Caption: During the ceremony, a person from the marae came out to challenge the visitor.
This was traditionally performed to assess whether the visitor was a friend or an enemy. They would often carry a taiaha (spear) and then lay down a small branch as a token, which the visitor would pick up to show they had come in peace.
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Caption: It was incredible to learn and experience the Māori history and culture, which is rich in art, song, dance and spiritual belief.
Picture of Te Puia