Te Ao Māori
The Māori World
Discover the living culture of Te Arawa, where ancient wisdom guides modern life and every tradition carries the mana of our ancestors forward into the future
Living Heritage
Te Ao Māori is not a relic of the past - it is a living, breathing worldview that continues to guide our people today. In Ohinemutu, this ancient wisdom shapes every aspect of our daily lives.
As descendants of Te Arawa, we carry the responsibility of preserving and sharing these cultural treasures, ensuring that the wisdom of our ancestors continues to illuminate the path for future generations.
"He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata."
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.
Te Reo Māori
The Māori Language
Our native language is the vessel through which our culture flows. Each word carries ancestral knowledge and spiritual meaning.
- Official language of New Zealand since 1987
- Contains cultural concepts untranslatable to English
- Oral traditions preserved through whakapapa (genealogy)
- Sacred karakia (prayers) and waiata (songs)
Tikanga Māori
Cultural Practices & Protocols
Our customs and protocols that guide respectful interaction with people, places, and the spiritual world.
- Pōwhiri - Traditional welcome ceremony
- Hongi - Traditional greeting (sharing breath)
- Tapu and noa - Sacred and ordinary states
- Whakakotahi - Unity and collective responsibility
Whakapapa
Genealogical Connections
Our genealogical connections that link us to ancestors, land, and all living things in an interconnected web of relationships.
- Connection to Ranginui (Sky Father) and Papatūānuku (Earth Mother)
- Links to iwi (tribe), hapū (sub-tribe), and whānau (family)
- Spiritual connection to natural world
- Responsibility to future generations
Māori Arts
Creative Cultural Expression
Traditional arts that carry spiritual significance and tell the stories of our people through visual and performing mediums.
- Whakairo rakau - Traditional wood carving
- Tā moko - Traditional tattooing
- Raranga - Traditional weaving
- Kapa haka - Traditional performing arts
Mauri & Wairua
Life Force & Spirituality
The spiritual essence that exists in all things, connecting the physical and spiritual worlds in Māori understanding.
- Mauri - Life force present in all things
- Wairua - Spiritual essence and connection
- Atua - Spiritual guardians and ancestors
- Whenua - Land as spiritual foundation
Hangi & Kai
Traditional Food & Sharing
Our traditional cooking methods and food-sharing practices that strengthen community bonds and honor the earth's gifts.
- Hangi - Earth oven using geothermal heat
- Gathering traditional foods (kaimoana, rauropi)
- Sharing kai as expression of manaakitanga
- Blessing food and giving thanks
Te Arawa - Our Iwi
The People of the Arawa Canoe
Our Whakapapa
Te Arawa traces its lineage to the great ocean-going waka (canoe) that brought our ancestors to Aotearoa over 700 years ago. Led by Tamatekapua, our people established settlements around the geothermal heartland of the North Island.
Ohinemutu has been continuously inhabited by Te Arawa people since that time, making it one of the oldest living settlements in New Zealand. Our village sits on the shores of Lake Rotorua, where our ancestor Whakaue established his settlement.
Our Sacred Sites
The geothermal features of our rohe (territory) are not just natural wonders - they are the physical manifestation of our spiritual beliefs. Each hot spring, each steaming pool has its own mauri and significance in our cultural landscape.
Mokoia Island, visible from our village, holds special significance as the setting for the famous love story of Hinemoa and Tutanekai, connecting our people through generations of shared stories and cultural memory.
Manaakitanga
The sacred art of hospitality, caring for others as we would our own whānau, creating connections that transcend cultural boundaries.
Kaitiakitanga
Our role as guardians of the environment and culture, protecting these treasures for future generations through mindful stewardship.
Whakakotahi
The spirit of unity and collective responsibility, recognizing that we are all interconnected in the great web of existence.