In Whakatāne, New Zealand’s longest continually occupied settlement sits the revered Mataatua Wharenui, a fully carved Māori ancestral house that travelled the world for over a century before returning home to its people, the Ngāti Awa Māori tribe of the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Considered by many as the beating heart of the Ngāti Awa people, it is this sacred setting that you will be introduced to the history, the customs, the culture and the people of Mataatua – the descendants of those who arrived from central Polynesia in the ‘main migration’ of circa-1350, and the people they found here: the original inhabitants of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Designed to provide an authentic look into Māori culture, your ‘Know Mataatua’ journey of discovery begins by being welcomed on to the marae through the ancient ritual of pōwhiri.

Follow by a guided tour and interactive cultural workshops, the experience in Mataatua Wharenui concludes with Hiko: Legends Carved in Light. Marvel at the intricacy of the carved representations of the great ancestors of Ngāti Awa before two of the most famous traditions of our tribe are brought to life before your eyes during this award-winning Mataatua visitor experience.

Poroporoaki (ritual of farewell) is the final act of the experience, where guests are presented with a small tāonga (gift) in acknowledgement of the honour they have bestowed on the tribe by travelling great distances to visit our sacred house

Arrive a stranger, leave a friend with unforgettable memories of the house, the people and the land of Ngāti Awa and Mataatua

Please note, for catering purposes, we require a minimum of 24 hours' notice. Therefore, bookings cannot be made within the 24-hour window of the tour date.