Maori Culture

SpongeBob - the world’s most famous sea sponge - is also a fluent te reo Māori speaker. Or at least he will be for five episodes of SpongeBob Squarepants – screening during Māori Language Week 2010.

The New Zealand film industry has been given another major boost with news that two sequels to the world's biggest movie, 'Avatar', are set to be made in Wellington.

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.

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

When the world’s biggest waka takes to the waters tomorrow (6.02.10) for New Zealand’s national Waitangi Day, one New Zealander will celebrate another special anniversary.

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 moving film that became a personal journey for award winning New Zealand director Vincent Ward has had its world premiere at the Sydney Film Festival.

The final stage of Te Parapara – New Zealand’s first and only traditional Māori garden in a public setting which will be unveiled at Hamilton Gardens tomorrow (10.12.2010) – offers rare insight into the region’s pre-European history.

New Zealand’s largest international tourism event TRENZ opens in Auckland next week (24.05.2010), with new products to tempt the world’s travel and tourism industry.

A highly skilled performance has won Auckland’s Māori performing arts group Te Waka Huia, the supreme award at New Zealand’s annual Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival for the fourth time.