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Māori Whakatau Welcome

Offered by WanaHaka Wine Tours Maori Culture

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$100.00 per person

4.9 (79 reviews)

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Booking handled by our partner, Viator

Mobile or paper ticket accepted Offered in: English

Māori Whakataū welcome in Queenstown or Wanaka with a wero, pōwhiri elements and focus on manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga; minimum four people.

Tour Overview

Begin with a Māori Whakataū, a traditional welcome led by the indigenous culture of Aotearoa New Zealand, offered by WanaHaka® in Queenstown or Wanaka. This experience centres on two important Māori values, Manaakitanga, hospitality, and Kaitiakitanga, guardianship of the land.

You are greeted with a Wero, or challenge, performed by a Māori warrior carrying a Taiaha. From there, the experience moves through the key elements of the pōwhiri, or welcome ceremony. It begins with manuhiri, visitors arriving as strangers, and concludes with a sense of becoming whānau, family. The focus is not only on place, but on meeting the people and cultural practices that shape life in Queenstown and Wanaka.

This is a grounded cultural experience that brings together people and land, with the option to hold the pōwhiri in either Queenstown or Wanaka. If you have a preferred location, you will need to email in advance to confirm.

A minimum of four people is required for each Whakataū. If minimum numbers are not met, you will be offered an alternative day or time, or a full refund.

What's Included

  • Private transportation

Not Included:

  • Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
  • Authentic Māori Bone Carving of your experience
  • WanaHaka Tea Towel Souvenir

What To Expect

  1. 1

    Lake Wanaka

    In Māori culture we hold two important aspects dear to us. the first being Manaakitanga (Hospitality) and Kaitiakitanga (guardianship of the land) .At WanaHaka® we want you to connect with these 2 important cultural elements. This Pōwhiri can be done in either Queenstown or Wanaka so please do email first as to your preferred location if required. You will be greeted by a Wero/Challenge with a Māori Warrior and Taiaha, from here we move through the key elements of the pōwhiri/welcome where we may start as strangers but by the end we end up as whanaua/family. A truely inspiring cultural experience that combines both the people and the land of Wanaka and Queenstown.

    45 minutes

    Admission: Included

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Glendhu Bay Track

Ruby Island Road, Wānaka 9382, New Zealand

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There are two different meeting points used for the Māori Welcome so the day before your scheduled booking you will be advised on this platform in your messages on your booking location and all the Māori Tikanga/protocol for the Welcome.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Important Information

• Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund • If you will not be arriving at your destination within the specified reconfirmation period, please reconfirm with the local service provider prior to travel, or upon arrival at your destination. Please note that departure times and locations may vary slightly. • Comfortable walking shoes are recommended

Additional Info

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.