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Located outside the entrance to the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, this Institute trains young carvers in the skills of their elders with demonstrations of weaving techniques.

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5

171 reviews

Excellent

102

Very good

56

Average

12

Poor

0

Terrible

1

Charlie H

Canyon Lake, TX10 contributions

Beautiful! Worth the visit!

Dec 2019

Visited in December 2019. Wonderfully-presented show we could watch again and again! Outstanding singers and performance. Arts and crafts were interesting. Carvings were amazing. What artists the Maori are! A Beautiful culture we'd love to live with but can't! Would love to attend again on a future trip! Opens up history and culture we were never aware of!

Written February 2, 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.

ina504

Los Altos Hills, CA87 contributions

Maori Arts & Craft Institute

Jan 2023

We had great day visiting the Institute. To be fair, we had a private guide-he was so well informed and we learned so much about the Maori people. We spent about 5 hours there, including a special lunch which was wonderful. Watching the craft people and the geyser and just seeing the beautiful setting. All very worthwhile and very enjoyable.

Written February 23, 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.

David W

Tulsa, OK572 contributions

Very Educational and Entertaining

Aug 2016 • Couples

We visited the Maori Experience in Rotorua yesterday. It was a very educational and entertaining experience. The history and culture of the Maori people is fascinating. The on stage show was excellent, but I expected it to last longer, with a little more information about the Maori history in dance, and it's place in their history. The dancers and singers were all very good at their craft of dancing and singing though. The craftspeople were excellent in their work, and explaining the patterns and the materials that were utilized in making their hand crafted work. Their explanation of how their products were utilized within the Maori Culture was extremely educational, and helped a lot in understanding the life within the early Maori lifestyle. It was a good experience...

Written August 21, 2016

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.

DollyD_13

Sydney, Australia12 contributions

Great show recommend it

Nov 2012 • Solo

Culture centre is a really good place to visit. The Woodwoork exhibition is excellent to watch.
Cultural Show was good. Lovely signing. Hot spring and mud pools put on a good show when we were there in November 2012. Sulphur smell not too bad. Take a trip to the Redwood Forrest its something to see. We were on a Cruise from Sydney and hired a private Tour from Tauranga with Carolyn who showed us all around.

Written January 18, 2013

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.

Colo_Traveler05

Littleton, CO219 contributions

Great Meal and Great Cultural Experience

Apr 2018 • Couples

We had the tour and meal and were thrilled with what we got. First we got the tour and then we had the show and meal. We loved it!

The tour shows you all the thermal aspects of the area. Bubbling mud pots, geysers, and more. They also take you through the Maori arts and crafts institute. You can see woodworking, jade (greenstone) carving, and fabric weaving. The culture carries on through the work of the students.

Next, we had an authentic hangi dinner. We had chicken, pork, sausage, corn, sweet potatoes, and more. All cooked in the underground pit. Everything was very good.

Finally, we had the Maori show at the Maori meeting house. The singing and dancing was very good. Well, all but what I did when they dragged me on stage. But everyone had a good time and the performers were very welcoming and authentic.

We very much enjoyed the night and would do it again. It was that good. Do it if you get a chance.

Written April 30, 2018

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.

RedPearlArt

Las Vegas, NV45 contributions

Steaming Geysers and Beautiful Maori Art

Jan 2018 • Couples

The Maori Cultural Art Center was the highlight of our all day Rotorua tour. The geysers and burping mud pots were fascinating. The school dedicated to the restoration and preservation of Maori culture was inspiring. Well worth the trip!

Written January 29, 2018

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.

Suzanne T

San Francisco37 contributions

A Bit Hokey but worth doing

Mar 2014 • Couples

The real museum of the Maori is in Auckland. This is a bit fakey and not inexpensive.
I have to admit we were disappointed.
Good news is that you have a Maori guide who answers questions and the hot springs are pretty cool.
We saw the obligatory Maori ritual and dancing. So we checked that box off on the trip.

Written September 2, 2014

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.

Eann87

Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand1 contribution

Great Tour

Jun 2012 • Family

Gives a true feeling of Maori culture.
Great culture music & culture dance
The theatre is a fantastic example of Maori carving and construction. Gives a great insight and one of the highlights of our visit to Rotorua.

Written January 26, 2013

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.

Jeff P

Perth, Australia109 contributions

Great tour. Well worth it!

Nov 2012 • Couples

Gives a true feeling of Maori culture. The theatre is a fantastic example of Maori carving and construction. Gives a great insight and one of the highlights of our visit to Rotorua.

Written December 20, 2012

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.

marenVienna

Vienna, Austria12 contributions

New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute

Oct 2011 • Solo

I lived in New Zealand for one year and had the opportunity to explore the beautiful nature and culture this country has to offer. One of the hightlights was the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute which offered a great insight into the history of the Maori people living in New Zealand and there cultural treasure. I would highly recommend to get to know the lifestyle of the early inhabitants whenever you visist New Zealand

Written September 26, 2012

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.

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