Kia Ora!

We spent our Thanksgiving dinner taking in some Maori culture – a concert and hangi. Upon arriving at the Marae, the Maori village, the host tribe sends out a challenge of peace. Several warriors greeted us with intimidating gestures, including bulging eyes and tongues sticking out, and displays of weapons before placing a peace offering on the ground for our designated chief. Only after we accepted the peace offering were we allowed into the Marae.

Once inside the Marae, we were treated to a performance of native songs, dances and haka. Of course, our chief had to perform the “hongi” (pressing of the noses) to seal the friendship between the different cultures. After the cultural performance we partook in a traditional Maori dinner prepared in the hangi, an earthen oven similar to the imu used for Hawaiian luaus. We had lamb, chicken, fish, stuffing, kumara, carrots, steamed pudding and pavlova.

We came to the conclusion that the Maori people are basically aggressive Hawaiians. Rather than the open arms of the luau, they intimidate you before opening their arms. Interesting considering that the kiwi’s are some of the friendliest people that we’ve met while traveling…although Greg hasn’t been to many places other than China and Vietnam and we all know how much he likes those people.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!