On Thursday, we took a short drive to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds (teachers, check out the hyperlink for great resources connected to this historic event!), where in 1840 Māori chiefs first signed their accord with the British Crown. Our guide gave us a very informative tour of the grounds and regaled us with fascinating "asides" about the chiefs and representatives of the Crown. One piece of info (not really connected to the treaty at all) was particular enlightening, at least for us. Our guide told us that the Māori name for New Zealand, Aotaeroa, means "land of the long white cloud." Okay, that part we already knew. We had assumed that because the Māori are largely a maritime people, and NZ is an island nation, that the name referred to the cloud formations often visible on most days. That assumption, we learned, was incorrect. The name refers to the phenoenon of the "blanket effect" we witnessed (most recently) in Oakura Bay in the night sky. The Milky Way does indeed create a cloudlike effect throughout the belt of stars that run the length of this beautiful country - it simply has to be seen to be appreciated!
The first photo is of "Ngatokimatawhaorua," the largest ceremonial waka in the world, a beautifully carved war canoe. At the end of our tour, we were treated to an exhibition of Māori culture at the Wharenui (meeting house). To begin this exhibition, the tourists must choose a "chief" to represent, lead, and speak for the group - guess who got chosen?!? To begin, a warrior exits the Wharenui to greet the visitors (first video). Another warrior then advances towards the visiting chief (second video) with his "taiha" (fighting spear), dancing, thrusting, and generally scaring the cr@% out of said chief. Seriously, I knew that it was a ceremony, but part of me kept hoping this warrior didn't have sweaty hands! The warrior then places a token gift (cabbage tree frond woven into the shape of an unfurling fern) on the ground. The visiting chief, to show good will and peaceful intentions, then must pick it up while maintaining eye contact with the warrior. If all is done well, the warrior slaps his thigh and returns to the Wharenui, and the visitors are now welcome to enter.
Inside, the warrior makes another welcoming speech once the guests have been seated and it is then the visiting chief's turn to respond. I don't really remember what I said, but I guarantee that it wasn't nearly as impressive. I was told to keep a firm hold of the fern and to remain solemn in expression as smiling or laughing would be considered disrespectful. The third photo depicts the "hongi," the end of the welcoming ceremony in which the visiting chief and warrior press noses and breathe in deeply - very cool!
The last photo was taken after the show with some of the performers and is actually the second take. I was scolded after the first one for not looking fierce enough; this is my best effort to look adequately fierce, sadly......
It was our final (at least for this trip!) outing of our stay in New Zealand and a fitting way to wrap our stay here.
The first photo is of "Ngatokimatawhaorua," the largest ceremonial waka in the world, a beautifully carved war canoe. At the end of our tour, we were treated to an exhibition of Māori culture at the Wharenui (meeting house). To begin this exhibition, the tourists must choose a "chief" to represent, lead, and speak for the group - guess who got chosen?!? To begin, a warrior exits the Wharenui to greet the visitors (first video). Another warrior then advances towards the visiting chief (second video) with his "taiha" (fighting spear), dancing, thrusting, and generally scaring the cr@% out of said chief. Seriously, I knew that it was a ceremony, but part of me kept hoping this warrior didn't have sweaty hands! The warrior then places a token gift (cabbage tree frond woven into the shape of an unfurling fern) on the ground. The visiting chief, to show good will and peaceful intentions, then must pick it up while maintaining eye contact with the warrior. If all is done well, the warrior slaps his thigh and returns to the Wharenui, and the visitors are now welcome to enter.
Inside, the warrior makes another welcoming speech once the guests have been seated and it is then the visiting chief's turn to respond. I don't really remember what I said, but I guarantee that it wasn't nearly as impressive. I was told to keep a firm hold of the fern and to remain solemn in expression as smiling or laughing would be considered disrespectful. The third photo depicts the "hongi," the end of the welcoming ceremony in which the visiting chief and warrior press noses and breathe in deeply - very cool!
The last photo was taken after the show with some of the performers and is actually the second take. I was scolded after the first one for not looking fierce enough; this is my best effort to look adequately fierce, sadly......
It was our final (at least for this trip!) outing of our stay in New Zealand and a fitting way to wrap our stay here.