Māori Whakatau Welcome
5
Māori Whakatau Welcome
By WanaHaka Tours
About
from per adult
$23.87
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 2-95, max of 30 per group
Duration: 40–60 minutes
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English
- Private transportation
- Entry/Admission - Lake Wanaka
What's not included- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
- Authentic Māori Bone Carving of your experience
- WanaHaka Tea Towel Souvenir
- Departure details
- #ThatWanakaTree, Roys Bay, 59 Wanaka Mount Aspiring Road, Wānaka 9305, New Zealand 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.
- Glendhu Bay Track, Ruby Island Road, Wānaka 9382, New Zealand 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.
Return details- Returns to original departure point
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 73623P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- What you can expect during your visit
- Regular temperature checks for staff
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Community- Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
- How much is Māori Whakatau Welcome?
- Māori Whakatau Welcome price starts from $22.65. Discover and book Māori Whakatau Welcome on Tripadvisor
- What is the Māori Whakatau Welcome cancellation policy?
- Māori Whakatau Welcome cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Māori Whakatau Welcome on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides Māori Whakatau Welcome?
- Māori Whakatau Welcome is hosted by WanaHaka Tours. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact WanaHaka Tours on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Māori Whakatau Welcome on Tripadvisor
- How much time do I need for Māori Whakatau Welcome?
- On average, this experience will take approximately 40m. Discover and book Māori Whakatau Welcome on Tripadvisor
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 73623P1
Reserve your spot
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- You’ll have 2 starting optionsSee departure details
- 1Lake WanakaStop: 45 minutes - Admission includedIn 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.Read more
- You'll return to the starting point
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About the operator
- Cosmopolitan62211300Definitely recommendWe loved learning more about Maori culture and customs while getting to see the beautiful Queenstown countryside and tasting amazing wines - definitely recommend!
- 689rosieb0010/10Joe was amazing, he knew so much about the Māori culture, footprint & wine. The vineyards we went to were great and he told brilliant stories along the way!
- anoel090600Great tour and guide.We had Joe all to ourselves and he told us so much about the Māori people and culture and how they travelled to this area. He is very passionate and knowledgeable. The 3 wineries we visited were wonderful. Locally owned and so personal. Great way to spend our first day in Wanaka.
- carolmM9411FC00Best tour in townWhat a fantastic tour, Joe was such a lovely man to spend time with, enjoyed learning more about Māori culture, 3 wineries were excellent especially the meat platter at the second winery. Last winery gave us an awesome behind the scenes tour of how wine is made. Our group bonded and laughs had by all thanks so much Joe
- KF_2023_6200Aussie guinea pigsA fabulous day out with Joe's Maori culture and wine tour. Picked up from accommodation and taken to experience 3 wineries over 5 hours. Started the tour with a Hongi (breath of life) and traditional Maori greeting, felt so included in his passion for his culture. Our group were the guinea pigs for a new cellar door experience and it was amazing. 100%. Stay tuned to his website for more details. Well done Joe and thank you.
- P6369BAfionam0010/10!!Joe was amazing!! Super friendly and super knowledgeable. The winery selections were great. Highly recommend as this was definitely a highlight of our trip.
- 4sianw00Just brilliant!Our best ever wine tour! Joe was a brilliant guide, we thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Māori culture, history and tradition. The lunch platter was amazing and each of the winemakers shared their passion for their wines but also listened to our feedback and preferences throughout the wine tastings. A fabulous day all round, we have told everyone about it!
- Traveler4165185368100Best Wine Tour!Had the most amazing time. The tour was very interesting and informative. Jo made as feel at home and did not rush the tour at all. Worth every second of your time. Thanks Jo!
- hollycL8183OH00Incredible!!!Incredible tour! It was my first time doing a wine tour and Joe was so lovely in teaching us Māori culture while educating us on the wines. He made us feel so comfortable from the very get-go and was so enthusiastic throughout the whole time. I had a fantastic day, it was something I was extremely excited to do and the experience went above and beyond my expectations. Loved learning about the history and culture of the area, while also learning about vineyards and wines, I would absolutely recommend it to everyone!!!
- Luvholiday100Memorable experienceWe booked the Wānahaka tour to experience the cultural side of NZ and wine tour within the Queenstown area. What a perfect way to see a spectacular part of NZ! From the moment Joe arrived his presence was so humbling acknowledging the land, elders and explaining NZ heritage and the Māori culture. We visited 3 boutique wineries and were treated to VIP service, Joe is clearly well respected. We enjoyed beautiful platters consisting of fresh local produce. Joe made the day so enjoyable we didn’t want the tour to end!! Don’t hesitate in booking this tour you certainly won’t regret it!
- BreannenC100Absolutely fantastic tour!This tour was the best wine tour I’ve ever done! Joe was a fantastic tour guide and very knowledgeable and friendly. All of the wines were delicious and the cheese platter was so good! 10/10 recommended
- Ashley D00Amazing experience - couldn't recommend enoughAs beginners to wine, Joe provided us with an amazing introduction to Wanaka's incredible wines and Maori culture. We had the pleasure of visiting three different vineyards, which all had great wines to taste. We found that each vineyard bought something unique to the experience, which was great. We also had the pleasure of having Joe teach us about Maori culture and history, which we really valued and enjoyed. We can't recommend this tour enough- thanks Joe for making it such a great experience!
- 21heidif00An absolute vibeIncredible knowledge of the local area and beautiful insight into the Maori culture. Joe was very friendly and even arranged for a pick up from our Airbnb. Such a welcoming man, would recommend.
- mreidybartels00Outstanding Tour, Already Booked Another One!Joe is an absolute delight! We had the best day with him touring Queenstown area wineries. He taught us so much about Maori culture and he led thoughtful discussions with prompts that encouraged us to apply Maori sentiments in our own lives. We enjoyed our tour so much that we are already signed up for another one. This is a unique Aotearoa New Zealand experience not to be missed!
- bartelsha00Amazing wine, incredible views, and all the cultureJoe is an awesome guide and an even more amazing guy! We loved our one of a kind experience with him and could not recommend it more highly. Excellent wines, views, and cultural experience.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
53 reviews
Excellent
52
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Lauren S
Auckland Central, New Zealand2 contributions
Feb 2020
Wanahaka with Joe is by far the best Maori culture experience available in New Zealand. Joe is the perfect vehicle for delivering Maori culture to New Zealanders and travellers alike. Joe has a tremendous gift with people. His ability to build instant raport with everyone he meets with his warm, checky sense of humour and genuine interest in people. Joe's has a special way of intergrating informative facts, in-depth knowledge of New Zealand's history and culture into a really fun and relaxed experience. His interatction with guests gives them a full immersion in Maori Culture and leaves them with a very special connection to NZ.
What guests experience through Joe's Wanahaka tour makes them feel like they have not just been to NZ, but are now apart of NZ. Joe's does a very powerful and moving Haka also. Thank you Joe, for sharing so much with us!
What guests experience through Joe's Wanahaka tour makes them feel like they have not just been to NZ, but are now apart of NZ. Joe's does a very powerful and moving Haka also. Thank you Joe, for sharing so much with us!
Written April 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JoeW3438
Aaaaawwww Lauren, Thanks so much for the beautiful words. It means a lot to me and I know how blessed I am to be able to share my passion of my Māori culture with you and your extended whānau. Until next Summer!!! Mā te wā Joe
Written April 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lee T
Melbourne, Vic10 contributions
Jun 2022 • Family
Thank you for our welcome to N.Z Joe, this has set such a beautiful tone for our trip this week. Both the children and adults came away with a deeper appreciation of your culture and are already wearing the carvings you bestowed upon them. We highly recommend this experience for anyone traveling to this magical part of the world.
Written June 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JoeW3438
Lee and whānau, was so awesome to deliver the Māori welcome to you and your wonderful kids. Very glad you learned a lot on the beautiful shores of Lake Wānaka.
Mā te wā/Until next time Joe
Written July 6, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RiannanSingh
Manchester, UK2 contributions
Couldn't recommend more highly. Joe taught us about the history of Maori culture throughout New Zealand and locally in Wanaka and also performed 2 different Haka, breaking down each element detailing it's significance. We also learned several Maori words and Joe sent a PDF with everything we learned which was an amazing bonus. Excellent value for money and well worth taking part in.
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JoeW3438
I am always delighted by what is remembered and the importance of Tikanga in Māori culture. Ngā mihi nui. Mā te wā /Until next time Joe.
Written February 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
kattyhendo
London, UK10 contributions
Outstanding morning with Joe. The welcome was phenomenal and so atmospheric in situ. He brought so much knowledge to life in his explanations and answered all questions we had regarding Māori culture. He was fantastic with our baby who wasn’t afraid to interrupt him (!) - sorry. But took her in his stride and included her within his explanations. Absolutely five stars and more to have an immersive experience on the history of New Zealand.
Written March 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shane W
1 contribution
Jan 2020
If you want to learn more about Maori culture and have an authentic experience this is a must do. The performance was fantastic and a personal highlight of my trip to New Zealand. Joe is also a genuine and great guy and his demonstration and explanation of the Wero, Whakatau and Haka dance was just really cool. Also learned a lot about Maori history, culture and connection to the land. Highly recommended!
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JoeW3438
I am so humbled by such beautiful words. It means a lot for me to express my culture with you and for you to feel and sense that as well gives me gratitude in abundance. Mā te wā /Until next time Joe.
Written February 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Elizabeth J
1 contribution
Mar 2023 • Couples
This was one of the highlights of our trip! Joe is an excellent teacher and storyteller and taught us so much about Māori culture. He stayed late to continue answering everyone’s questions and you can really tell that he loves his work. Highly recommend!
Written March 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JoeW3438
Ngā mihi for the kind words, I am so glad you learnt more about Tikanga and Māori history of the region on your trip to Wānaka with WanaHaka. Mā te wā/Until next time Joe
Written March 16, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Simone A
Melbourne, Australia3 contributions
Jun 2022 • Business
We were privileged to have Joe open our conference with a traditional Māori welcome . He also spent time giving a moving explanation of the
Haka and other elements of Māori tradition . It was a highlight of our day . I would thoroughly recommend Having joe work with you on your special event. Thanks joe
Haka and other elements of Māori tradition . It was a highlight of our day . I would thoroughly recommend Having joe work with you on your special event. Thanks joe
Written June 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JoeW3438
Ngā mihi Simone, thanks for reaching out from Australia for your conference welcome. I am so glad you all learnt a lot and it was my privilege to be a part of it.
Mā te wā/Until next time Joe
Written July 6, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Anne M
7 contributions
Dec 2019 • Business
Joe’s whanau performance next to Lake Wanaka was an unexpected pleasant surprise. Joe explained the various stages connecting us to the wisdom of Maori tradition. My most important takeaway was “mana” ~ prestige, spirit of person. I will practice mana in 2020. Happy New Year.
Ka kite ano.
Ka kite ano.
Written January 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JoeW3438
My honour and pleasure. It warms my heart that you will practise Mana now and in the future. Mā te wā/Until next time Joe
Written February 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Trisha
Hyderabad, India258 contributions
The welcome experience is so powerful and moving, my husband and I continued to discuss it afterward. Learnt a lot about Maori culture and history of South island. Joe's demonstration and explanation of the wero, hongi and haka were so fascinating. Learning how the haka is actually unifying a diverse population is amazing. The one hour got over too fast and we were left wanting more. If you want to learn about Maori culture, this is a must do. Joe is extremely humourous and you will love every minute of this enthralling experience. Wish I had time to do the wine tour as well :)
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JoeW3438
Ngā miihi/Thanks so much for the beautiful words. To be able to remember and recite some info we went over means a lot to me. Glad you enjoyed the experience. Mā te wā /Until next time Joe.
Written February 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mark S
3 contributions
Mar 2023
We would like to extend our gratitude to Joe Waide (Māori tribal warrior) who’s presentation and cultural performance yesterday, were outstanding.
What better way to formally welcome our delegates and attendees (all Aussies) and to show our respect, our acknowledgment and admiration to the history, the heritage, to the Land, the culture and to the ancestry and people of Queenstown, via Joe’s ‘reception greeting’. Haere mai, ngā manuhiri tūārangi
And Joe performed his ‘traditional welcome greeting’ with passion, with pride, with dignity and with a great deal of enthusiasm. It also brought about a sense of complete respect for each of us during the ‘ceremony’ – including the acceptance and receiving the branch, the Hongi etc.
I was most impressed by this Hongi and ceremony and the commentary and feedback from our delegates has been extremely positive and ever-so respectful as well.
So, we extend our many thanks to Joe and wish him all the very best. It certainly created and enhanced the Opening Address and Welcome to Congress. We will have no hesitation to recommend him for future events and obviously, if we are to return to Q’town, we will seek him out again.
Kind regards,
Mark Stephen
Managing Director
Civitas Services Australia
What better way to formally welcome our delegates and attendees (all Aussies) and to show our respect, our acknowledgment and admiration to the history, the heritage, to the Land, the culture and to the ancestry and people of Queenstown, via Joe’s ‘reception greeting’. Haere mai, ngā manuhiri tūārangi
And Joe performed his ‘traditional welcome greeting’ with passion, with pride, with dignity and with a great deal of enthusiasm. It also brought about a sense of complete respect for each of us during the ‘ceremony’ – including the acceptance and receiving the branch, the Hongi etc.
I was most impressed by this Hongi and ceremony and the commentary and feedback from our delegates has been extremely positive and ever-so respectful as well.
So, we extend our many thanks to Joe and wish him all the very best. It certainly created and enhanced the Opening Address and Welcome to Congress. We will have no hesitation to recommend him for future events and obviously, if we are to return to Q’town, we will seek him out again.
Kind regards,
Mark Stephen
Managing Director
Civitas Services Australia
Written March 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JoeW3438
Ngā mihi/Many thanks Mark, coming from the MD means so much to me and to have 130 or so of your team there was so powerful and they could feel the Mana, and glad you loved your trip to Wānaka and Queenstown with WanaHaka.
Written March 16, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alextravelsforever
Brisbane, Australia8 contributions
Hi, Would the Powhiri happen if it rains?
Joe W
80 contributions
Morena,
For how many people??
Nga Mihi/Many thanks
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Product Overview: Māori Whakatau Welcome
Prices From | $22 |
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Number of Reviews | 53 |
Number of Photos | 15 |





















































