Desert Wanderers: Kia Ora! We immerse ourselves in Māori culture

Today we visit Rotorua (Tauranga) nestled on the Bay of Plenty. Its watched over by Mount Maunganui, an extinct volcano. In case you haven’t noticed, everywhere we have visited lately has been related to some kind of volcanic activity. As we headed out today, we were able to see how active and vibrant the city of Tauranga is. It is Saturday and there seems to be tons of activities at the various beaches in town. Surfing, volleyball,sailing and lessons in each seemed to all be available. We had a quick trip around the beaches and then headed to Rotorua for our immersion into the Geothermal features of the area and the Māori culture.

Norfolk pine

Such green!!

The school we are visiting is the national school for carving(including bone and pounamu wood) and weaving along with metalwork. Its purpose is to promote and perpetuate Māori crafts and arts. Along with the school, the geothermal features are very impressive.The Rotorua area is the largest concentration of Māori in the country. We started with a walk through the woods to get to the Kiwi exhibit.

Artwork greeting us upon arrival

Entrance

More Māori totems

Yes, that’s one word!

A warrior outside the kiwi experience. We were able to go into a specially designed enclosure to view the kiwi birds. This bird is a flightless bird native to NZ. It is , at full growth, about the size of a chicken . This is almost an extinct species. They are nocturnal and the way we got to see them is by the building being dark and their schedules have been reversed. There were no pictures to be taken so as to not disrupt the carefully planned schedule and that is exactly what we did. We were rewarded by seeing all three birds in the exhibit. It was fabulous!! One of the best experiences ever!! Something I will always remember. After the Kiwi birds it was off to the thermal features..

Since we have spent time in Yellowstone, we were unsure of what to expect..we were not disappointed

There aren’t many active geysers due to the local residents using the geo

thermal features for energy for years. there were a few geysers that went dormant for close to 30 years. A few months ago three of them began producing steam and water again.

Us and the geyser

Now on to the art and craft school. Inside were able to see a few students working on learning their chosen art.

Bone carvers, each carefully taking the vision they had in their minds and transferring that vision into reality. All the students must be Māori but May come from anywhere in the country. Part of the entrance fee we paid to see the geysers goes towards scholarships for students. They stay here until it is felt they have mastered the craft. We were able to go inside the art/craft school and see students at work learning the skill to become Māori craftsman.

Weaving

Weaving using reed

Large wood carving

Included in our tour was a Preformance explaining more about the ceremony of Māori life. Here are picture of the inside. Note the dancers are not green skinned- a reflection of the green light above them

Welcoming our chief began the program. When the Māori chief came towards him he laid a fern leaf on the ground in front of our chief. When our chief picked it up he there was a spear brandishing and facial expressions period before we were allowed into the meeting house

Great carved details in the roof.

The dancers were wonderful and welcoming.

After our visit was over, we headed by bus for a brief tour of Rotorua and then on our journey back home here’s a few pictures of buildings in the city.

On the way back to the ship our driver pulled over so we could see the “other”kiwis. I had no idea they grew on vines similar to grapes!! Look closely and you can see the little brown fruit hanging!