Maori Culture Maori culture (Maori: Maoritanga) is the customs, cultural practices, and beliefs of the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand. It originated from, and is stil part of, Eastern Polynesian culture. Maori culture forms a distinctive part of New Zealand culture and, due to a large diaspora and the incorporation of Maori motifs into popular culture, itis found throughout the world.{1) | Within Maoridom, and to a lesser extent throughout New Zealand as a whole, the word Maoritanga is often used as an approximate synonym for Maori culture, the Maori-language suffix -tanga being roughly equivalent to the qualitative noun-ending -ness in English {3118 Maoritanga has also been translated as "[a] Maori way of life."'5) Four distinct but overlapping cultural eras have contributed historically to Maori culture: before Maori culture had differentiated itself from other Polynesian cultures (Archaic period) before widespread European contact (Classic period) sthe 19th century, in which Maori began interacting more intensively with European visitors and settlers, -the modem era since the beginning of the twentieth centuryMeet Tane Mahuta, the magnificent Kauri tree Standing tall and proud in the Waipoua Forest is , one of New Zealand's tallest native kauri tree. Embark on an intimate tour through the forest with Discover the ancient kauri forest with local Maori storytellers who will guide you at twilight, so you can witness the stillness of the forest as it transforms from day into night. Learn how the forest plays an important role in the lives of local Maori and the eco- system.Listen carefully for the sounds of wildlife, including kiwis and morepork. Be the first in the world to see the sunriseWe cook our food under the ground. The Hangi (not to be confused with the Hongj) is a feast cooked within an earth oven for several hours. We heat stones in the embers of a fire, and dig a pit where the hot stones are placed along with wet sacking. Then, we place our food on top — think chicken, lamb, pork and vegetables — before covering it with earth to trap the heat, The Hangi is an awesome way to feed a large group of people, and the smoky, earthy fragrance of the food is delicious. It’s quite different to your typical summer BBQ! We greet people by pressing our noses and foreheads together, Forget handshakes or hugs — our traditional greeting is known as the Hongi, which is done by two people briefly pressing noses and foreheads together at the same time. During the Hongi, the ha - or breath of life - is exchanged between the two people. The sharing of the breath of life can be compared to both parties’ souls intermingling together. Our Hongi is definitely a little more interesting compared to a handshake,