It has been a while since anything cultural was posted here. I thought it was about time that changed, and I shared a Mitai Maori Village experience we had way back in 2012.
We were on our honeymoon. An amazing adventure travelling around both of the New Zealand Island, North and South.
We spent a couple of nights very very rainy nights in Rotorua. Rotorua is in the north of the North Island, but south of Auckland. While we were there, we booked ourselves an excursion to visit the Matai Maori Village.
Rotorua was built in the early 1880s by the government, as a town for tourists visiting the ‘hot lakes’. Situated just to the West of Lake Rotorua is the Mitai Maori Village.
Mitai Maori Village – When I was Chief
Their website describes themselves as “An Authentic Traditional Mitai Maori Village Experience!”
On arrival we were given our table number and the organiser introduced himself. The first thing he did was find out how many different countries were represented.
Turns out 21 different countries were being represented that night.
His next Question “Who is here in NZ for their honeymoon”. This left 4 couples standing including us!
For some strange reason, the organiser chose me to be the Chief to represent the 21 nations, or tribes as we were known that night. For anyone that knows me well will know that this is the sort of thing that terrifies me. To be the chosen one, picked and given a job to do where all eyes will be on me. Everyone will be watching.
But, in front of all these people, there was no way I could chicken out, so I went with it. With gritted teeth!
Apparently, although I doubt it somewhat now, this was a very serious role where me, as the Chief had to meet the Maori Chief on the stage, give a short speech introducing his tribes, the 21 countries, and perform a Maori greeting, which involved the touching of noses twice!!!
Just to clarify my comment about doubting the seriousness of it. I am sure the custom and the routine is actually super serious. However, had I made a hash of it all, I would like to think one of the spears, sticks, weapons or the guitar perhaps, would not have been embedded about my person somewhere.
The good thing was we both got seats right at the front, so had a great view, and could see everything.
Taking Centre Stage
After the introduction I was taken to the side of the stage, where I waited nervously for my staring role. It was then the turn of the chief of their tribe who did a very elaborate dance, with weapons and sticks, and to be honest, it was all a little bit scary! However, my time came, and I entered the stage.
I gratefully collected the feather I was given as a peace offering, while performing the traditional Maori greeting of the touching of noses twice. On behalf of my ‘tribe’ I thanked him for the gift, and hurriedly made my exit.
I did it. I’d survived. No one laughed, I didn’t fluff my lines, and I had a story to tell!!
After the Performance
Once the formalities were all wrapped up, we were told all about the Maori culture, including how they fought and the rituals they went through, with some very exuberant singing and dancing including a full length version of the Haka.
After this, we headed back for dinner, or Hangi as they called it.
This is a unique way of cooking, where the food is placed in holes in the ground, where they cook for a few hours using just the heat generated from the ground, which is hot due to the Geothermal activity going on.
We were given a demonstration of this when we first arrived, along with the arrival of the Tribe via canoe up the river.
Finally, just as night fell at about 9pm, we were taken on a tour through the woods. In case anyone is wondering, it was still raining. We were to learn a bit more about how the built their houses from different trees, and finally to a small lake surrounded by Glow Worms, a cool sight.
It was then back on the coaches, back to the hotel for much needed sleeps.
