Rotorua is Maori heartland. We couldn't leave it without experiencing some Maori culture, even if it's a touristy bit of it. We went to Te Puia, the New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institue, which offered an evening Maori culture package including a Maori welcome, kapa haka (Maori performing arts concert), Maori feast with traditional hangi (earth-cooked oven meal) and a night tour of the illuminated Pohutu geyser. The culture showcase was dignified, the food excellent and the geyser spectacular. It turned out to be a very enjoyable evening.
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| Maori carving |
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| At the entrance, monumental posts spiral towards the heavens, each representing a divine realm |
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| Welcome ceremony |
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| Dance performance |
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| Maori singers - powerful operatic performances |
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| Spectacular Pohutu geyser, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere |
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| Stone at entrance that you rub for good luck as you leave |
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