Te Puia, Rotorua

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A visit to the Pohutu Geyser is a must when staying in Rotorua.It is situated in the Whakarewarewa thermal valley.The largest of several geysers within the valley which erupts on average once or twice each hour and can reach heights of up to 30 meters.Pohutu Geyser is a complex spring which discharges water in a cyclic manner.It is believed that a geyser requires an intricate plumbing system involving one or more chambers into which hot water,steam and gases are all fed.Gradually this reservoir becomes pressurised and hot enough for the water to begin boiling.From the rapid and violent pressure within the chamber,water is forced up the geyser vent and ejected into the air.

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The cultural performance showcases Mâori traditions through song, dance and narration.

Visitors first experience a Welcome Ceremony at the gate of the marae where you are recognised as friends by a warrior represntative. You are escorted to the meeting house and, after removing your shoes, enter to be seated for the performance.

Local artists perform a Haka, the graceful Poi dance, a weapon stick dance and the tititorea stick game while musicians play and sing.

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The Pâ or ‘marae’, is the traditional meeting place of a tribe and as such is the centre tribal society and wellbeing. Peolple come here to talk, play, pray celebrate and mourn.

This particular pâ named Rotowhio was built as part of a plan to upgrade Te Whakarewarewa thermal reserve in the 1960's. Although built as a model the Rotowhio marae is fully operational and welcomes hundreds of people from all over the world daily.

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Te Puia aims to - 'be the centre of knowledge and excellence for the preservation, presentation, education and growth of traditional expressions of Mâori arts, crafts and culture'. Taken from their website.

When you arrive at the centre you walk through a traditional gateway to enter the Te Heketanga-a-Rangi or sacred Mâori place of Heavenly Origins. Twelve enormous carvings represent the guardians in the local culture.

There is a marae or Pâ - the traditional meeting place of the tribe where all facets of community living take place. It is here that the traditional 'Welcome Ceremony' and Cultural Performance are held.

Te Puia is also the home of Carving and Weaving Schools where these traditional arts are taught.

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Te Puia Maori Cultural Centre is the home of the famous Pohutu Geyser. It erupts regularly during the day - up to 20 times - and can reach a height of 30 metres. The name means 'Big Splash' inthe Maori language. There is a smaller geyser nearby called 'The Prince of Wales Feathers' which erupts preceding Pohutu.

There are walkways down to the geysers that you can take at any time during your visit to the centre. 90 minute guided tours are included in the entry and are organised so that you get to the geysers at the best time to see them erupt.

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In the geothermal area at the Maori Cultural Centre of Te Puia there are some amazing boiling mud pools. These pools are fumaroles but with very little water. They contain an acidic slurry of clay and mud.

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En el Marae se ve que todas las construcciones están hechas de madera y se pueden ver los distintos trabajos y filigranas con que decoran sus edificios
In the Marae all buildings are made of wood and you can see the various carvings and patterns that decorate their buildings

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No podían faltarnos los helechos
Nos sorprendió que nos dijeron que utilizaban los troncos de los helechos para hacer vallas
The ferns couln´t miss
We were surprised when they told us that they used the fern logs to make the fences

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Los maoríes nos introducen en su cultura con cantos y actuaciones. Nos reunimos alrededor de la entrada principal de la Marae (Lugar sagrado que se utilizaba con fines religiosos y sociales) y vimos tradicionales karanga (bienvenida) que marcaba el inicio de los 45 minutos de canto y danza que hicieron dentro de la casa de reunión. Aquí, rodeados por las hermosas tallas de madera de sus antepasados, los visitantes se quedaron encantados con las armonías exuberantes, el seductor baile poi , la haka feroz, (reto de guerra) y el complejo Tititorea ( juegos de palos)

The Maori introduce us in their culture singing and acting . We gathered around the main entrance of the Marae ( Sacred place used for religious and social events ) and we saw traditional karanga (welcome) that marks the start of 45 minutes of song and dance inside the meeting house. Here, surrounded by the beautiful wooden carvings of their ancestors, visitors we were delighted with lush harmonies, the seductive poi dance, the ferocious haka, (war challenge) and the complex tititorea (stick games)

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Podemos ver las clases de tallado de madera en las que hacen figuras con formas humanas y otras figuras que usan en sus construcciones y también de los diferentes tipos de tejidos y como los hacían
Existe una tienda en la que venden esculturas y tejidos

We can see the wood carving classes , how they made human figures and other figures used in their buildings and also of the different weaving types and how they weaved
There is a store that sells sculptures and textiles