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Te Pa Tu: An Intriguing Evening of Maori Culture and Seasonal Cuisine
Experience an enchanting evening of Maori culture and indulge in a seasonal cuisine feast at Te Pa Tu. Immerse yourself in song, drama, tradition, and delicious local kai in a forest village setting.
Experience an enchanting evening of Maori culture and indulge in a seasonal cuisine feast at Te Pa Tu. Immerse yourself in song, drama, tradition, and delicious local kai in a forest village setting.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- 1072 State Highway 5 - New Zealand’s Most Awarded Cultural Attraction, Tamaki Māori Village presents TE PĀ TŪ Feast on song, drama, tradition, and divine seasonal kai (cuisine) within our forest Pā (village) –blanketed by towering Tawa trees, blazing bonfires, and forest-formed amphitheatre. Te Pā Tū shares Māori history, traditions, and cultural…
- 1072 State Highway 5 - New Zealand’s Most Awarded Cultural Attraction, Tamaki Māori Village presents TE PĀ TŪ Feast on song, drama, tradition, and divine seasonal kai (cuisine) within our forest Pā (village) –blanketed by towering Tawa trees, blazing bonfires, and forest-formed amphitheatre. Te Pā Tū shares Māori history, traditions, and cultural aspirations across 4-hours of celebration and feasting. These events change with each season of the maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar. Summer: Tū Te Rā - Across this lunar phase, the sun expresses optimal energy, the days are longer, and light nourishes the natural world. Tū Te Rā celebrates abundant harvest and explores concepts, rituals, and stories of ancient Māori warfare and peace. Winter: Tū Te Ihi includes the time in the earth’s cycle when Matariki stars are high and bright in winter skies. Te Ihi references the energy and passion stirred by the Matariki cluster and the promise they herald.
What's Included
- Māori Cultural Performance
- Traditional welcome ceremony
- Māori fusion feast
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Return transport from central Meeting Point
- Māori Cultural Performance
- Traditional welcome ceremony
- Māori fusion feast
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Return transport from central Meeting Point
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic Beverages
Additional Information
Feast on song, drama, tradition, and divine seasonal kai (cuisine) within our forest Pā (village) blanketed by towering Tawa trees, its blazing bonfires, and forest-formed amphitheatre.
Te Pā Tū offers 3-hour evening events that change with each season of the maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar.
Across summer, Tū Te Rā celebrates an abundant harvest,…
Feast on song, drama, tradition, and divine seasonal kai (cuisine) within our forest Pā (village) blanketed by towering Tawa trees, its blazing bonfires, and forest-formed amphitheatre.
Te Pā Tū offers 3-hour evening events that change with each season of the maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar.
Across summer, Tū Te Rā celebrates an abundant harvest, and we explore concepts, rituals, and stories of ancient Māori warfare and peace.
Throughout winter, Tū Te Ihi marks promise heralded by the arrival of the Matariki star cluster which high and bright in winter skies, signalling the new lunar year – we share the energy and passion of this celebration.
Cultural knowledge unique to each season is shared from the outset – rituals, songs, stories and continue across the night. From the beginning too, we share local, seasonal kai - plentiful and delicious. Kai horotai (indigenous canapes) is followed by a torch lit walk to a lavish 3-course fusion feast.
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Camera and Video usage is permitted throughout the entire evening experience.
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(1216 Ratings)
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1 star
Margaret
Oct 6, 2024
Māori experience was very special - The pride and stories the Māori shared with us was a great experience. The food was exceptional. Recommend this activity.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tamatir2023
Oct 6, 2024
Amazing - Amazing! From the bus ride to the destination, to the cultural experience walking through the forest, to the delicious food. You are fully immersed in the Māori culture. Very friendly tour guides and talented performers made for an amazing time! Highlight would have to be the multi cultural singing performance after dinner.
Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
732morgann
Oct 5, 2024
Immersive way of learning about the culture, along with incredible food - My partner and I went along to the summer harvest celebration recently and had a great time. It was a great immersive way to learn and experience the Māori culture. From traditional plants, to practices and food, it was very informative, but fun at the same time.
One of the highlights for me was seeing the incredible talent the performers had, and the food. The canapés to start were delicious. We then got to see the traditional hāngi being lifted from the ground, which we then later got to eat along with many other courses.
Overall an incredible experience, we will definitely be back!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Awatered
Oct 5, 2024
A Perfect Fusion of Culture and Unforgettable Cuisine - From start to finish, my experience at Te Pa Tu was absolutely incredible. The evening began at the "Meeting Place," where we were warmly welcomed by the incredibly friendly staff. After a short 15-minute bus ride, complete with engaging commentary from the driver, we arrived at the site.
Upon stepping off the bus, we were greeted with a traditional "wero" or welcoming challenge, which sent shivers down my spine—it was truly a breathtaking moment. From there, we entered the village, surrounded by a stunning forest canopy. The cultural performance was amazing, with beautiful singing that resonated through the open-air amphitheatre. The setting itself was perfect, with the option to sit on comfortable seats or large rocks covered with blankets, adding to the authentic experience.
After the performance, we had the chance to explore the village and take part in interactive activities like traditional games, learning about weaponry, hearing stories, and my personal favorite—sampling Māori-inspired canapés.
The evening culminated with a high-quality feast in the dining hall, featuring delicious dishes like confit duck, hāngi-style vegetables and meat, and tender wagyu beef. Every bite was to die for! While dessert was served, the performers again entertained us by moving through the room, singing songs that represented where people in the audience were from. It was a fantastic way to build connection and make everyone feel included.
I highly recommend Te Pa Tu to anyone seeking a cultural experience that goes beyond the ordinary. It’s intimate, beautifully thought out, and every detail has been considered to make it unforgettable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Onair387224
Oct 5, 2024
Amazing Authentic Māori cultural experience - Could not recommend Te Pa Tu enough. Went for the opening night of their summer experience and from the moment we got there we felt so looked after and welcomed.
The location is stunning and the performers were talented, knowledgeable and created such an enjoyable atmosphere.
Highlight of the night was the food! Such a large and delicious spread, everything was high quality and a great show of New Zealand cuisine. (Try to resist eating too many canapés, there’s so much more to come after that!)
On the pricier end for a Māori cultural experience but the best I’ve been too in terms of authenticity, food and atmosphere and would recommend to anyone - even locals!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rebekah_r
Oct 2, 2024
Most do when in Rotorua - Four hours sounded like it would be a long night but it went really fast. Everything from the bus ride there to the experience was amazing. The family went out of their way to share their culture and include ours. Great performances, delicious food and educational on the Maori culture. Loved it!
Review provided by Viator
Trina_p
Oct 2, 2024
Don’t miss this!!! - I came all the way to Rotorua just for this tour and it did not disappoint. It was an honor to be able to witness and learn about their culture and history. Their passion and excitement from beginning to end was absolutely beautiful. They keep you engaged from the second you walk into the meeting center. The performance and singing is jaw dropping. The tour was so so informative but we also got to get hands on and try a lot of it with them. The food and drinks are delicious. The location is stunning and in the middle of the forest. It felt like being transported back in time. Everyone was so funny and so accommodating. Every age group was there and enjoyed it. I had the most incredible time. If you have the chance to experience this i hope you choose this tour. The family that runs it pours their entire heart and soul into it. If I ever come back I wouldn’t hesitate to book again.
Review provided by Viator
Getaway65839139644
Oct 1, 2024
Unreal Experience - What an unreal evening at Te Pā Tū recently for their incredible evening experience Tū Te Rā (Summer Harvest). The food was incredible and the whole experience was unlike any other. I learnt a lot about the Māori culture and it was an evening to remember.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Culture41800693464
Oct 3, 2024
A good night our with the family - My family and I decided to go with this Maori experience as we have done the Te Puia one years back. We meet at the gathering place in town. It was a nice comfy building. We were on time and waited around 20-30 minutes before boarding the bus. It would be better if there's less wait although the kids were entertained by the colouring sheet and there wifi for the adults.
We board the bus and our Maori tour guide was very entertaining.
We got of at the village after 15minute bus ride.
Chef welcoming ceremony really good and we went in to the village where there's different stations ie to learn the haka etc. Canapes throughout each station and drink. We then saw the Marlori dance and singing performance which is very good. Kids really enjoyed it! Can be too loud for very young children but ours were fine -6 and 8.
Dinner was good, lots of food. Could have reduce the amount slightly as I don't like to see food go to waste. Food could do with a bit more salt too. Safe could be more attentive too to water on the table etc.
Overall experience was good. Good learn about the Maori culture.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nigel_b
Sep 30, 2024
Not as expected - We were expecting a Maori historical and cultural learning experience with stories of the past and a show whilst eating dinner - our expectations were dashed as it was nothing like that at all. There is a 20 min bus ride with a cheerful aged driver, a welcome ceremony, split into groups, some personal details about your host, leaf and stick games with some canapes, walk through village, mock hangi, then 3 course dinner with strangers and no show, just sitting with strangers for 2+ hours, albeit the food was good. Very little storytelling and learning about Maori culture, which is the main reason we went. So not worth the $$$ unfortunately
Review provided by Viator