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The Cultural Performances are held
twice daily at 11.15am and 2.00pm and are included in
the price of admission.
From the 26th of December 2006 to the 14th of January 2007 there will be an extra cultural performance held
daily at 12.15pm.
Our performers will share with you our culture through
the performing arts enlightening you with song and dance.
For a more detailed description of each item please
click the following:
Formal call of welcome by women
The Karanga is the ceremonial call of welcome
performed only by the women of the tribe.
The call also clears a spiritual pathway for the ancestors
of both visitor and tangata whenua (people of the land)
to meet and partake in the ceremonial uniqueness of
this welcome.
The call of the women acknowledges the ancestral spirits
of the visitors before them and also acknowledges who
you are and why you have come...top
Formal speech
The Whaikorero is the formal speech generally
made by the men during the formal welcome ceremony or
in social gatherings.
The speaker acknowledges the creator “IO”
giving thanks for the breath of life and to Mother Earth
for all living things.
Acknowledgement to the ancestral meeting house is made
to pay tribute to the central ancestor and descendants
down through the generations until the present.
Tribute is also paid to the dead who now live on in
the spirit realm along with a tribute to the living
giving thanks for our continued existence.
The conclusion of the Whaikorero will see the speaker
acknowledging the gathering and the purpose which brought
everyone together. A message of welcome will be delivered
to everyone gathered......top
Classical Maori Chant
The Moteatea is a chant performed by both men
& woman and sung in unison with no choreography or
musical instruments. The Moteatea is usually performed
at the end of the Whaikorero to support the speaker and
what has been said...top
Action Song
Unlike the Moteatea the waiata-a-ringa is commonly
sung accompanied with musical instruments and harmonious
voices, and is usually performed with choreographed movement
of hands to the melody and rhythm of the song.
The movements of the hands tell the story of the words
that are being sung, the quivering of the hands signifies
life, where there is movement, there is life...top
Men posture dance, a psychological and physical
preparation for battle
There were two types of war haka - one performed
without weapons, usually to express public or private
feelings, known as the "haka taparahi", and
the war haka with weapons, the "peruperu". The
"haka" was traditionally performed before
going into battle. It was to invoke Tumatauenga, the
god of war, and warned the enemy of the fate awaiting
him. It involved fierce facial expressions and grimaces,
the protrusion of the tongue, eye bulging, grunts and
cries, and the waving of war weapons
Today the haka is performed with the same stance and
aggression but more so to enlighten visitors. ...top
Ball & Twine
Originally made of plant fibre called the raupo
(bullrush) fashioned into a ball on the end of a string.
In the earlier days this instrument was used by the
men as an exercise to insure their wrists were supple
for greater skill when using the hand weapons used in
battle.
Today, with the use of modern materials such as sponge,
plastic and twine the woman have taken over this instrument
adding melody, movement and style to depict the words
they are singing. Both short and long poi dances are
displayed...top.
Stick games both long and short sticks
This was another form of exercise used by the
men to help assist with preparation for battle. The short
sticks were passed between 2 or more persons for eye co-ordination;
the longer stick was manipulated around the body for flexibility
and again suppleness of the wrists. Today these items
are performed by both men & women accompanied with
song and music for demonstration and entertainment...top |
