Whakatane is the cultural heart of the coastal Bay of Plenty and is home to Ngati Awa (the dominant Maori tribe in the area). Their ancestors first arrived here from central Polynesia in the 13th Century and Maori have lived in Whakatane ever since.
You can experience New Zealand’s indigenous culture first-hand when you visit Mataatua Wharenui – the most well-traveled Maori meeting house in the country.
A wharenui is a building where Maori gather for events and is a focal pointfor the local community. This particular wharenui was taken to exhibitions in Australia, London and Otago (in New Zealand’s South Island) before being returned to Whakatane after 130 years away. The building’s removal was against the wishes of the local people. It came home in 2011 thanks to the sheer persistence and determination of Ngati Awa to see justice done.
Mataatua is intricately carved out of wood and is a very large meeting house, even by today’s standards. It first opened in 1875 and was 24m long, 12.5m wide and 7.5m tall.
A tour through Mataatua is designed to help you feel the spiritual presence of Maori ancestors. You will be formally welcomed into the building through the ancient tradition of a powhiri (welcoming ceremony). A digital light show, cultural songs and historical stories will help you immerse yourself in Whakatane’s rich Maori history and understand this region’s unique heritage. Light refreshments using indigenous ingredients will also be served.
This tour promises you will arrive as a stranger and leave as a friend, with unforgettable memories of this meeting house and a better understanding of Maori culture and the traditions of the Ngati Awa people.
