Experience Māori culture

Educational Experiences at Whakarewarewa

The most memorable kind of learning is experiential and immersive, which is exactly what Whakarewarewa – The Living Māori Village is able to bring to life.

We accommodate educational groups of all ages and areas of study through Rotorua Education Network. Rotorua Education Network partner with a range of Rotorua businesses, helping schools or groups arrange custom itineraries that suit their educational needs. Whakarewarewa’s unique combination of rich culture and impressive geothermal forces makes for a truly memorable learning experience.

By partnering with us and other Rotorua attractions, ROTORUA Education Network is able to:

• Organise quotes and create customized itineraries specific to your needs, encompassing activities, accommodation and transport.
• Arrange bookings and vouchers, processing all payments.
• Book speakers with the Whakarewarewa staff or appropriate people with a working knowledge of the industry.
• Provide resources for teachers and students to achieve their learning goals.
• Offer competitive rates with efficient turn-around times, booked through the one source – saving you both time and money.

Culture

The inhabitants of the Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao tribe have been welcoming visitors to Whakarewarewa for over 200 years. Showcasing traditional Māori ways of life through guided tours, performance and the sharing of kai (food), Whakarewarewa offers an authentic cultural experience like no other. With a unique history dating back to the guides that took visitors to the now destroyed Pink and White Terraces – named as one of the natural wonders of the world – our people played a significant role in early New Zealand tourism.

Geothermal

Whakarewarewa Valley is home to an ever-changing landscape of powerful natural forces. Boiling hot pools, bubbling mud, huge geysers and colourful sulphur streams shape the environment, making the village feel it is distinctly alive. Groups interested in learning about geothermal forces, especially their effect on shaping the way people live and go about their daily lives, enjoy what’s on offer at Whakarewarewa.

Tourism & Hospitality

The Pink and White Terraces, located at Lake Tarawera, were one of New Zealand’s earliest and most famous attractions. Many of the guides who took visitors out to the terraces also guided at Whakarewarewa, including Sophia Hinerangi, one of the most famous and well-known. The inhabitants of Whakarewarewa have been welcoming visitors to the village since the 1800’s. For those studying tourism and hospitality, the Village’s heritage and history forms a fascinating case study.
Whether you’re after an immersive overnight Marae experience, an afternoon of traditional food and cultural kōrero (talking) or a morning studying the powerful geothermal forces at play within our Village, REAL can help you create a memorable educational experience at Whakarewarewa – The Living Māori Village.