Ohinemutu Maori Village and War Memorial, Rotorua

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La iglesia de la Santa Fe está decorada con esculturas Maorí y en ella destacan los "tukutuku" que son paneles geométricos tejidos que aunque a simple vista nos parezcan iguales tienen su significado enrraizado en las tradiciones Maori
No podemos dejar de ver la vidriera que está detrás del altar , en la que aparece Jesús , vestido con un manto Maori y que da la sensación que está caminando por el lago Rotorua
Nota : Hay quien dice que el Lago Rotorua se parece al mar de Galilea ( ¿? )

The Saint Faith Anglican Church is adorned with Maori carvings and it highlights the "tukutuku" , geometric weaved panels that although at first glance they loohk the same for us they have an spetial meaning in Maori traditions
We must see the window behind the altar, in which Jesus appears, wearing a Maori cloak and gives the feeling that he is walking on Lake Rotorua waters
Note: Some people say that Lake Rotorua is like the Sea of Galilee (?)

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En lo que fue el pueblo Maori , que se llamaba Ohinemuto ( Lugar de la Jóven que fue asesinada ) , que ya está integrado en Rotorua y a la orilla del lago está la iglesia Anglicana de la Santa Fe , de estilo Tudor , que está integrada con un conjunto histórico en el que destaca la casa de juntas y otras construcciones Maorí

In what was the Maori village , called Ohinemuto ( Place of the Young Woman who was Killed ), which is already integrated in Rotorua and in the lake shore is the St Faith´s Anglican Church , which is integrated with an historical group of buildings , where is the meeting house and other Maori constructions

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On the shore of Lake Rotorua, close to the city centre, we found this regular Maori village, where still people live their lives. We walked through the streets and along houses and nowhere tourists !!

On several places is hot water coming to the surface and is streaming through the village. Everywhere is the smell of sulphur.

In the middle of the village is the impressive Tamatekapua Marea, surrounded by other typical Maori buildings.
Opposite this meeting house is the St. Faith's Anglican Church, built in 1910 in Tudor style. We were not surprised to find an interior with wood carvings, weaved panels and painted scrollwork. The church has also famous stained-glass windows.

Ohinemutu is absolutely not a commercial Maori village and there is no entrance fee (as in Whakarewarewa).

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Ohinemutu can be quickly reached on foot from Lake Rotorua lakefront and it is a good place to visit a place where Maori culture meets the European culture.
Ohinemutu was once the main Maori settlement in Rotorua, and still retains strong links to its Maori heritage. A popular attraction is St Faith's Anglican church, on the edge of Lake Rotorua. Leave your shoes outside and admire the window depicting Christ dressed in Maori clothes, placed to create the illusion he is walking on the lake's surface.
A fusion of English architecture and Maori carving, this is a unique example of Christianity's acceptance into traditional Maori life.
A nice craft shop offers a wide range of Maori hand-made crafts.

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The historic marae at Ohinemutu also provides an opportunity to visit the Maori War Memorial on the lake's edge. This is an interesting and sacred site, remembering the many Maori servicemen who served in our military forces. The site alone, on the edge of the lake and with the arches and setout, makes this place very spiritual and moving.
You can visit this memorial in conjunction with seeing the Maori Village. This is one more chance to visit some culture and history at no cost.