Ngati Makino - The Little Tribe That Could

OVERVIEW

Become immersed in the culture of the Ngāti Mākino while visiting this Māori tribe's fortified settlement, known as a pā. As the tribal members show you around their seaside village, you will walk along the defensive ramparts and see how traditional life is embraced. An eel-fishing demonstration will deepen your understanding of the lifestyle as will watching your lunch being prepared to steam-cook in a hāngī, a traditional earthen pit oven. The ingredients are typically wrapped in flax leaves and placed on hot coals in the bottom of the hāngī and left to cook for several hours. Oral storytelling plays a prominent role in Māori life because the Māori didn't have a written language until the first Europeans arrived. As you will discover, storytelling is more than narration; it's an emotionally moving performance that involves dancing, singing, chanting and praying. As a gesture of kinship, you can help plant a native mānuka tree on the tribal grounds.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Gain an understanding of traditional Māori life in a tribal village.
• Watch demonstrations of eel fishing and cooking.
• Enjoy lunch cooked in a hāngī earthen pit oven.
• Listen to Māori storytellers recount ancient legends.
• Help plant a tree to commemorate the experience.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.