Te Puia

Posted by Ruth Atherley on May 26, 2010 at 1:08 pm

I met with Patrick Tamati of Te Puia and caught up on what’s happening at Te Puia, the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute.

Te Puia was set up by legislation in 1963 to foster the customary art forms of Maori. Since then, Te Puia has nurtured and trained hundreds of artists in carving, weaving and other skills, including kappa haka (Maori performing arts).

Te Puia also offers a range of guided tours throughout the day as well as Te Po, an evening cultural experience. It is a feast for the senses – full of culture, storytelling, entertainment and Maori cuisine. At the end, you are taken to view Pohutu, their famous geyser under the stars.

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