.....the warriors go through some really intimidating gestures using their bodies and Taiaha ....spear-like weapons.....while poking their tongues out and making their eyes bulge.....until the Teka....peace offering....is placed and received by one of the visiting chiefs.....
It all looks so very very green in these photos.....and it was.....we'd had the most torrential downpour while we were getting ready in our motel.....and everything always looks so green and refreshed after rain.....but none more so than the ferns and traditional bush in New Zealand.
After the Karanga.....welcome call....had echoed across the courtyard, followed by the Powhiri ....welcome dance....we were able to enter onto the village grounds.....
Lit by flares and small fire baskets in the now failing light, several tribe members demonstrated different Maori activities from little traditional huts.......
....poi twirling, hand games, flax weaving, weaponry skills, and agility and combat exercises to train for war......a regular occurrence for the Maori warriors of old.
After the demonstrations, we made our way into the Wharenui.....big house, or meeting house ......where Whaikorero.....welcome speeches.....were made......followed by entertainment in the form of traditional songs, dances, the Poi dance and the Haka....telling the story of the Maori people......
By now, it was properly dark and we were very hungry......we made our way to the Wharekai..... food house......past the Hangi.....earth oven pit.....where our food had been cooked in the traditional manner.....rocks are heated in a fire using native timber until they are white hot......they are then put into a pit dug into the earth.....baskets of meat are put directly onto the hot stones, followed by baskets of vegetables, and finally the pudding basket on top .....a wet cloth is placed over the food, followed by wet hessian.....earth is quickly piled over everything to keep the heat inside the earth oven......where it is left to steam and cook for three to four hours.....
....this Hangi pit is rather commercialised compared to what a totally traditional pit would have looked like.
The food was served as a buffet, with an excellent selection of meats, fish, vegetables and salad, followed by a traditional New Zealand dessert of pavlova......I was really sceptical about the Hangi food, since having had one as a child and hating it......but I was most pleasantly surprised at how delicious it all was......we all ate until we were completely stuffed full.
Our evening at the Maori village ended with the poroporoaki.....the official closing ceremony .....with a couple more songs.....waiata.......and whaikorero.....speeches......after which, we were all bused back to our accommodations around Rotorua.
It was an interesting and educational evening for us all....but especially for the Angels who had never encountered Maoris dressed in traditional costume......or had any knowledge of their customs and culture. Before the Angels knew we were going to New Zealand, I surreptitiously asked them what they would like to do if we ever got to go there......Big Miss said she wanted to go to a Maori village......so we.....Big Miss especially.....would like to thank Grandpa and Grandma G for making it possible and treating us to this wonderful cultural experience, which I'm sure will remain in our memories for years to come!
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