Maori Culture and Geysers

I’ve had a bit of a fascination with geology since I was little, in particular volcanic activity and earthquakes. I am also fascinated by different cultures and ways of living. A visit to the thermal village of Rotorua was therefore a must. A significant proportion of the population of the town are Maori and Geysers and hot springs fill this sulphur city with steam... and a slightly eggy odour.

Whakarewarewa (pronounced fa-ka-re-wa-re-wa) is a tiny village within Rotorua where Maori still live in their traditional ways, passing their land and skills on to the next generation. It's the only thermal village that is genuinely still inhabited and it is run by the village for the direct benefit of the villagers. Everyone who works there is a local or grew up there.

We were shown around by a local young lady who entertained us with amusing stories of her childhood. The stories of Maori culture were fascinating. For example, they still use the hot springs as a communal bath. Why waste money heating water when there is free hot water popping out of the groud everywhere?

They also use the springs for cooking, either directly in the water or in a steam box above it. It's actually the only village where you can eat food genuinely cooked in this way. It's known as a traditional “hangi”. We tried some for lunch and I have to say, the photo does not do it justice, it was delicious!

We were treated to a demonstration of traditional village song and dance, which Thomas found particularly fascinating. They even taught us “Heads, shoulders, knees and toes” in Maori. He loved the haka too!

I love the fact that by opting to go to this village rather than the government run example villages, our money would be used to keep the Maori traditions alive. The village has created a school with the proceeds where the local children can learn about their heritage and the Maori language. I wholeheartedly recommend a visit.