New Zealand: Whakerewarewa – Real Mineral Baths

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In Whakerewarewa, New Zealand, the Maori way of life is preserved. The hot thermal mineral baths were an important part of their life. Here these hot thermal pools are designed for easy sitting, entry and exit. You can see the younger generation enjoys them too. This was the young lad who earlier jumped into the freezing water for visitors (see earlier Instagram) so it must have been especially yummy for him to soak in the warm water.

New Zealand: Whakerewarewa – Maori Meeting House

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Tupuna Whare, the Meeting House, is the center of the Maori community. Gatherings of all kinds including entertainment, teaching, meetings, and funerals all took place (and still take place) here. 

New Zealand: Rotorua – Maori Land

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Smoke from thermal pits were and are a feature of the terrain around Rotorua, New Zealand, especially in the indigenous Maori land. It made cooking pretty darn easy.

 

New Zealand: Rotorua – Three Coins in a Water Pool

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Younger generations of Maori are still involved in showing off the traditions of the indigenous people. In Whakerewarewa this boy was brave enough to jump into frigid water for coins the visitors threw in.

New Zealand: Rotorua

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Situated around the center of the Northern Island of New Zealand is where you find remnants of the Maori lifestyle of hundreds of years. The area is lush with trees and waterways so it was easy for them to live here.

 

New Zealand: Cambridge – New Fangled Hangi Meal, New Zealand

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Traditionally hangi, as the Maori meal is often called these days, is made with fish, chicken and root vegetables such as kumara (sweet potato). Nowadays, pork, mutton or lamb, potato, pumpkin, cabbage and stuffing may be included. Traditionally it is cooked in a pit in the ground and the result of a 3-4 hour process is tender, off-the-bone meat and delicious vegetables, all infused with a smoky, earthy fragrance. Nowadays, new-fangled ovens produce the meals more easily.

New Zealand: Gordonton – Dancing with Captain James Cook in Zealong Sculpture Garden

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Captain James Cook (1778-1729) was a British adventurer who explored New Zealand. The indigenous Maori introduced him to the manuka plant as a medicinal tea. It reminded him of home.

New Zealand: Gordonton – One Dragon Teapot in Gordonton, NZ

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In Asia dragons and teapots are very popular for centuries. At the Zealong Tea Estate sculpture garden you learn about oolong teas and teas around the world.

New Zealand: Gordonton – Tea Pots Dragon at Zealong Tea Estate, New Zealand

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A favorite sculpture in the Zealong Tea Estate sculpture garden was this long tea pot dragon with the estate building in the rear.

New Zealand: Gordonton – Sculpture of Famous Tea sage in Gordonton, NZ

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It was a surprise to us to learn that there were tea sages. Here’s a sculpture of Lu Yu who performed this work way back in 733-804. Since he lived to 71, unusual back in those days, perhaps the tea is anti-aging?