Te Hana Te Ao Marama Maori Cultural Centre
Te Hana Te Ao Marama Maori Cultural Centre
Te Hana Te Ao Marama Maori Cultural Centre
4.5
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About
Te Hana Te Ao Marama offers an array of authentic and exciting cultural activities from guided New Zealand Maori Village Tours and awe inspiring Maori Cultural Performances to Marae styled accommodation. Our Village Cafe also provides you with mouth watering savouries and sweets or browse through our Art Gallery for the perfect hand crafted gift. Open 7 days 9am to 5pm.
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Te Hana Te Ao Marama Maori Cultural Centre
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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.
4.5
29 reviews
Excellent
19
Very good
6
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
2
Juliet J
Manchester, England, United Kingdom80 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
We visited here on a wet afternoon and we were the only ones being taken round the attraction.
There's no haka or poi dances, there's no hangi, but we did get a local guide all to ourselves. So it was a great opportunity to ask away.
The attraction is basically a mock Maori settlement. You need good walking shoes as the tour takes you outside, up around the fortified hill and then back down to the village.
For a first experience of Maori, it was great. We learnt loads about the local history from this guide so it was money well spent.
There's no haka or poi dances, there's no hangi, but we did get a local guide all to ourselves. So it was a great opportunity to ask away.
The attraction is basically a mock Maori settlement. You need good walking shoes as the tour takes you outside, up around the fortified hill and then back down to the village.
For a first experience of Maori, it was great. We learnt loads about the local history from this guide so it was money well spent.
Written January 23, 2017
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.
Emily K
Beijing, China103 contributions
Mar 2015 • Family
We saw this curious structure as we were driving past and decided to stop after we realized it was a Maori cultural centre.
First we ate at the cafe; it was normal cafe food, nothing special. I had a sandwich and my daughter had a muffin (which was especially tasty), $7 total for those.
Then, we went for a 45-minute guided tour of the village. The tour cost us $36 each for my husband and I, and our daughter was free because she is under three years old (total $72).
At first I was kind of confused about what this place actually is. It is a model of a Maori tribe that used to exist on the mountain across from this centre. For our tour there were no re-enactments, no show, no dancing, no cultural food or traditional clothing, or any of that. Sometimes they said things like "the guards are gone fishing" and "sometimes we cook there" and that confused me because I thought it was a replica of the village but they talked about it like they were still using it. When I finally realized that a better tour experience was available, I wished we could have been there for one of those. However, we didn't have reservations or plan to be there at a certain time, we just passed by and decided to go in, and that was the time that we were in that town, so we were still really happy to have stopped.
We ended up having two tour guides, as they switched in the middle of the tour. Both were very friendly and knowledgeable, and passionate about their culture. They told us interesting things, and also knew the answers to our cultural questions.
FAMILIES WITH KIDS: It was close to our daughter's nap time, and there were not really activities for kids to do (like, it was just a tour, you know?) so as she pushed ahead and wanted to explore things more than she was supposed to, they were pretty fine with it (allowing her to go in the little huts and not complaining about her touching things), but I also wished she would have been in a more cooperative mood. She was bored with the tour, for sure. I felt like I was constantly watching her to make sure she didn't get into the water or break things, and particularly for the first half of the tour I felt like that really detracted from my experience. I think families with school age kids and adults would have more fun with this kind of tour. But it is doable with little kids, and they were pretty tolerant of her behavior. It was just our family on the tour, nobody else, so that helped, too. The cafe had a high chair. (It would be more fun if the tour added some kid activities; a few dress up items or instruments would make it easier with a toddler. Little kids want to touch stuff and do things, and there is not much to touch or do.) No food or drinks allowed on the tour. I doubt that strollers could do the tour.
In the end, we felt like we came away knowing 1000x more about Maori culture than we did when we entered. We have been in New Zealand for a few months but we hadn't really done anything related to Maori culture until this, so we were happy to have taken this opportunity to learn and add this type of experience to our visit.
First we ate at the cafe; it was normal cafe food, nothing special. I had a sandwich and my daughter had a muffin (which was especially tasty), $7 total for those.
Then, we went for a 45-minute guided tour of the village. The tour cost us $36 each for my husband and I, and our daughter was free because she is under three years old (total $72).
At first I was kind of confused about what this place actually is. It is a model of a Maori tribe that used to exist on the mountain across from this centre. For our tour there were no re-enactments, no show, no dancing, no cultural food or traditional clothing, or any of that. Sometimes they said things like "the guards are gone fishing" and "sometimes we cook there" and that confused me because I thought it was a replica of the village but they talked about it like they were still using it. When I finally realized that a better tour experience was available, I wished we could have been there for one of those. However, we didn't have reservations or plan to be there at a certain time, we just passed by and decided to go in, and that was the time that we were in that town, so we were still really happy to have stopped.
We ended up having two tour guides, as they switched in the middle of the tour. Both were very friendly and knowledgeable, and passionate about their culture. They told us interesting things, and also knew the answers to our cultural questions.
FAMILIES WITH KIDS: It was close to our daughter's nap time, and there were not really activities for kids to do (like, it was just a tour, you know?) so as she pushed ahead and wanted to explore things more than she was supposed to, they were pretty fine with it (allowing her to go in the little huts and not complaining about her touching things), but I also wished she would have been in a more cooperative mood. She was bored with the tour, for sure. I felt like I was constantly watching her to make sure she didn't get into the water or break things, and particularly for the first half of the tour I felt like that really detracted from my experience. I think families with school age kids and adults would have more fun with this kind of tour. But it is doable with little kids, and they were pretty tolerant of her behavior. It was just our family on the tour, nobody else, so that helped, too. The cafe had a high chair. (It would be more fun if the tour added some kid activities; a few dress up items or instruments would make it easier with a toddler. Little kids want to touch stuff and do things, and there is not much to touch or do.) No food or drinks allowed on the tour. I doubt that strollers could do the tour.
In the end, we felt like we came away knowing 1000x more about Maori culture than we did when we entered. We have been in New Zealand for a few months but we hadn't really done anything related to Maori culture until this, so we were happy to have taken this opportunity to learn and add this type of experience to our visit.
Written March 4, 2015
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.
MelbourneQuilter
Benalla, Australia40 contributions
Mar 2019 • Friends
My husband and son visited this attraction, while I waited for them and talked with staff. We were advised that the tour was not wheelchair accessible, however after my husband and son returned they suggested that around 85% of the tour would have been accessible for me in a wheelchair. Perhaps the management could ask for a local wheelchair user to give them some guidance on rating their attractions because I was sad to have missed what was clearly a great experience for my family,
Written April 7, 2019
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.
New k
Auckland9 contributions
Feb 2014 • Family
We called ahead to confirm a few details i.e. tour times, prices and that we would be visiting later that day etc as the information around this activity is fairly muddled and limited. This should have been my first warning. On arrival we had a quick bite to eat, whilst waiting for the food my brother and I went to buy the tickets, whilst our respective families and children finished eating. This chaos took over 20 minutes as the person who served us couldn't seem to figure out the pricing, then wrote out a gift card, then started charging for extra children that we did not have. We had an option of a 30 minute tour or a 60 minute full tour "with all the extras" apparently, and were charged nearly $200 - for four adults, one child and two babies. Anyway, after this headache was over, we were met by our tour guide - I forget his name. Alarm bells rang again when we saw his attire, not the usual traditional costume or even a uniform of some description (as other people, looking after a tour group that had just finished were wearing). We were then given a sloppy 20 minute (if that) quick walk around the village - no real history was given, we were shown a duck, an eel and a fake cave, told that if we had come earlier we would have seen people performing?! (although that is what we had paid for!!!!), the guy was very sparse with his knowledge of Maori culture, which made the whole thing even more ridiculous. Sorry to sound personal, but it was cringe worthy and embarrassing. There was also no mention of the lack of access for push chairs/wheelchairs anywhere, which meant we couldn't go up into the wooden structures. When we asked if we would see any of the little re-enactments that we have seen previously in the Taupo cultural village or even in Raratongo, the reply was "erm, I can see if I can get some of the boys to do something". Seriously?!!!!! We then asked for our money back, which again caused a huge headache, maths clearly isn't the strong point here. Overall, a massive disappointment, a waste of a day with our precious family who had travelled half way across the world- shame on you for your sloppy service, that is a family day that we will never get back.
Written February 6, 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.
Mick C
101 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
Part of a cruise ship shore tour from Auckland, a little over an hour north via coach & we'd arrived at Te Hana Te Ao Marama Maori Cultural Reserve.
Before we even got off the bus we were greeted by the local host in their foreign tongue, welcoming us to their home.
Following a short introduction & election of our "chief", we were guided into the reserve and transported back to how a visiting tribe would be treated upon arrival 300+ years ago.
While they said it was fine to take photos, I felt a little uncomfortable doing so, so just enjoyed the experience for what it was.
To attempt to describe the experience would be unfair, but safe to say it was powerful & emotional and well worth it.
After the ceremony we got a detailed tour of the village, a little insight into the way of life for the early Maori followed by a traditional Hangi lunch.
All in all a great experience, thoroughly enjoyable.
Before we even got off the bus we were greeted by the local host in their foreign tongue, welcoming us to their home.
Following a short introduction & election of our "chief", we were guided into the reserve and transported back to how a visiting tribe would be treated upon arrival 300+ years ago.
While they said it was fine to take photos, I felt a little uncomfortable doing so, so just enjoyed the experience for what it was.
To attempt to describe the experience would be unfair, but safe to say it was powerful & emotional and well worth it.
After the ceremony we got a detailed tour of the village, a little insight into the way of life for the early Maori followed by a traditional Hangi lunch.
All in all a great experience, thoroughly enjoyable.
Written December 3, 2017
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.
Claire Scott
New Zealand14 contributions
Jan 2017 • Friends
I liked your Te Hanna TE AO Marama Maori Center with my friend Robyn Jones.
We both like the hearing the history of TE Hanna TE AO Marama Maori Cultual Centre and we both found that it was very informative with the informaiton your tour guy gave us.
I had asked lots of questions.
My freind and I did get the chance to see all of the Te TE AO Marama Maori site.
I would really like to go again some time soon.
There is very clean and moddern toilets and lots of toilets for men and women.
The area some places are very difficult to get wheelchairs through and their are other ares that areas that are easy to get whelchair through.
We both like the hearing the history of TE Hanna TE AO Marama Maori Cultual Centre and we both found that it was very informative with the informaiton your tour guy gave us.
I had asked lots of questions.
My freind and I did get the chance to see all of the Te TE AO Marama Maori site.
I would really like to go again some time soon.
There is very clean and moddern toilets and lots of toilets for men and women.
The area some places are very difficult to get wheelchairs through and their are other ares that areas that are easy to get whelchair through.
Written February 20, 2017
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.
bizzybrimal
Auckland, New Zealand6 contributions
Jul 2016 • Friends
Great way to see the Maori culture in the early times. We were welcomed with a Powhiri and I acted as the Captain of my Tribe. There is also a Maori Village in the back showcasing housing and fortresses when the Maori's ruled New Zealand. I highly recommend a visit to Te Hana!
Written January 17, 2017
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.
Michael P
Tagaytay, Philippines1,291 contributions
Nov 2015 • Couples
From the second our buses entered it was obvious a great deal of work has been put into the construction of the village and center. Our group was expertly led from the entrance by an elder to Te Ana o Te Topuni which means The cave of the Spirit.
The pūtātara a type of trumpet was blown by the warrior to inform all villagers in the fields and neighboring villages of strangers approaching. The pūtātara is customarily made with a carved wooden mouthpiece and a bell made from New Zealand's small native conch shells (Charonia lampas rubicunda) or triton shell (Charonia tritonis).
The elder explained the village layout and a pou whenua.
Village welcome ceremony was a sight to behold that is easily mistaken as threats or sign language the intruders should leave now. The wielding Taiaha and the brandishing tao does inspire caution. The War lord’s body art, known as Moko but more commonly referred to as Māori tattooing, extended tongue and Hoeroa did make many wonder if this was a declaration or greeting.
When Capt. Cook came the first time to the islands how did he know to pick up the token and not step on it or leave the token on the ground? Choose wrong is war or death.
Auē te Aroha is performed as part of Māori demonstration of welcoming visitors and their love of god and their people. The trembling of the hands during the Auē te Aroha that we may perceive as a reaction to fear, the village spokesperson tells us this is the Māori way of getting strength from their spirit.
The Haka is an emotional event that has to be experience personally to understand and enjoy.
The explanation of the village daily work life and the history of the tribe is not to be missed or taken lightly.
We returned to the Matariki to enjoy our Hangi (meal) was fantastic
Our group was truly happy to have this life experience.
The pūtātara a type of trumpet was blown by the warrior to inform all villagers in the fields and neighboring villages of strangers approaching. The pūtātara is customarily made with a carved wooden mouthpiece and a bell made from New Zealand's small native conch shells (Charonia lampas rubicunda) or triton shell (Charonia tritonis).
The elder explained the village layout and a pou whenua.
Village welcome ceremony was a sight to behold that is easily mistaken as threats or sign language the intruders should leave now. The wielding Taiaha and the brandishing tao does inspire caution. The War lord’s body art, known as Moko but more commonly referred to as Māori tattooing, extended tongue and Hoeroa did make many wonder if this was a declaration or greeting.
When Capt. Cook came the first time to the islands how did he know to pick up the token and not step on it or leave the token on the ground? Choose wrong is war or death.
Auē te Aroha is performed as part of Māori demonstration of welcoming visitors and their love of god and their people. The trembling of the hands during the Auē te Aroha that we may perceive as a reaction to fear, the village spokesperson tells us this is the Māori way of getting strength from their spirit.
The Haka is an emotional event that has to be experience personally to understand and enjoy.
The explanation of the village daily work life and the history of the tribe is not to be missed or taken lightly.
We returned to the Matariki to enjoy our Hangi (meal) was fantastic
Our group was truly happy to have this life experience.
Written July 27, 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.
Mick D
melbourne18 contributions
Jun 2013 • Couples
We had a tour just the two of us with Thomas as our guide. It was amazing to learn not just about the Village and all the displays that where at the site but also about the work that had been done around the local area as well. We learned a great deal about Maori culture and the people that had lived around that area as well as how smart and ingenious the Maori's where 300 years ago. You could hear the passion in his voice and when he spoke about the history it felt like you where going back in time. This is a wonderful and educational experience that is run and being built but some very amazing volunteers and i would recommend a visit. We also had coffee and a piece of very tasty carrot cake and like every where we went in NZ the people where so friendly and nice and we where greeted with the biggest smile by the lovely lady in the coffee shop.
Written June 15, 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.
Nauribeth
Whakatāne, New Zealand7 contributions
Apr 2013 • Business
I can't say enough about my afternoon at Te Hana, hosted by the local people, I was able to traverse a contemporary experience in a modern day world and then taken into their purpose built fortified pa, to get an insight to how things might have one day been. Thomas, their guide, is such a "people person", engaging with everyone so that we all felt special, although he said singing wasn't his forte he could hold a tune. For those who are looking for a Maori Cultural Experience that is authentic and real - this is one to do, if you're in the Auckland NZ region well worth the investment as it'll be a moment you take away in your heart. Tena tatou e te whanau.
Written April 28, 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.
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