Maori Culture

From North Cape to southern Stewart Island, each Kiwi community has its own unique local way of celebrating New Zealand’s national day - Waitangi Day - on 6 February.

Traditional Māori culture and 21st century New Zealand innovation have added a new dimension for rugby fans exploring Auckland’s waterfront at Waka Māori.

Joy and solemn ceremony brought an epic 136-year journey to an end this week when a treasured Māori wharenui or carved meeting house was reopened in its rightful New Zealand home.

A New Zealand homecoming that’s been 130 years in the making will see a famous wharenui or carved meeting house returned to its rightful place in one of the most significant Māori cultural happenings of modern times.

Kiwis across New Zealand are talking up their language and hospitality skills as they join in the annual Māori Language Week (4 – 10 July 2011).

Teams arriving in New Zealand for Rugby World Cup 2011 will be embraced by the warmth of the local culture from the moment they arrive in their host regions.

A super-sized Māori haka, staged simultaneously in New Zealand’s four main cities, will unite Kiwis in sending a powerful message of strength and support for the people of Christchurch.

Matariki, the unique cultural festival celebrating the dawning of Māori New Year, will start early this year with the Pleiades star formation due to first appear over New Zealand on 4 June.

Pacific maritime history came to life on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour today (15.4.11) as a fleet of traditional waka prepared to set sail on a 27,000km ocean voyage.

Rugby World Cup visitors will leave New Zealand with two words – kia ora – firmly embedded in their vocabulary, if the Māori culture-rich region of Rotorua has its way.