This has been an amazing place to visit. It seems I continue to use the same superlatives over and over again but this particular place has taken me back through all my National Geographics and my love for geography, geology and the natural earth has been brought to life again and again.
I think of all the youngsters in our schools who are so switched off by what is perceived to be a "boring' subject and I just want to immerse them in such experiences. We have the technology to make education live in schools and I know I did not always reach the teachers I needed to to make their subject live for their pupils.
We were extremely fortunate to have Faith as our guide, herself a piece of history as she is the fifth generation of her family who have chosen to follow a profession as a guide. This in itself is part of the “female” history of maori women.
There is some debate as to where the maori people originated. Faith is quite clear that they came from as far away as Greece and not just the countries within the Polynesian Pacific Rim. It is said that there is no "true" maori as with the intermingling of the races there are maoris today with fair hair and blue eyes although the dominant genetic features are more akin to Polynesians.
if you click on this photo and the one below you can zoom in and read what is written. They say it much better than I can.
The Nga Waru Pu Manawa Gallery offers a unique encounter with New Zealand’s past revealing the significance of landscape and tells of Kupe , a key figure in this country’s history. Kupe was one of the first Polynesian navigators to explore this country and was responsible for a number of place names that exist today. The gallery was full of fantastic beautifully mounted black and white photographs of the area similar in style to Ansel Adam's photographs of Yosemite National Park.The Pathway of Fire, Te Ara Ahi recounts the journey and peril of Ngaatoroirangi, a revered tohunga (spiritual expert) that arrived on Te Ara waka (canoe) approx. 600 years ago. Through his plight local Maori believe the geothermal system was created.
The Te Whare Tapere includes the natural environment as well as the culture and taonga or treasures which encourages the visitor to explore the valley in a more informed way.
We visited the Nga Manu Ahurei – Kiwi House. As Kiwis are nocturnal it is unlikely that you will see them in the wild. The kiwi is held in high esteem by the Maori, kiwi feather cloaks being a sign of chieftainship. They are about the size of a hen.
It is the result of acid gases and steam that cause the decomposition of minerals (fieldspars to form a clay called kaolin). It is white when pure but finely divided black sulphur turns it grey. I seem to remember as a child my granny talking about putting kaolin poultices on small children with breathing problems..... bad chests I think? The activity varies with the amount of rainfall but the temperature of the steaming bursts of mud is approximately 90-95C.
The Pohutu Geyser is the largest of several in the valley erupting on average once or twice every hour and can reach up to 30 metres in height.
It is a complex spring discharging water in a cyclical manner.
It is thought that a geyser requires an intricate plumbing system involving one or more chambers into which hot water, steam and gases are all fed. Eventually this reservoir becomes sufficiently pressurized and hot enough for the water to begin to boil.
From the rapid and violent pressure within the chamber, water is forced up the geyser vent and then ejected into the air. The area is surrounded by steam and the strong smell of sulphur, not exactly intoxicating!
Te Wananga Whakairo - The Carving School
This is considered a prestigious art and here is taught to a select few (4-6 young male trainees who must prove maori blood) on an annual basis under the skilled hands of graduate carvers. Their practical training is carried out in the workshop area .
There are many examples of magnificent carvings in the workshop and too many to post here but just one example......the kauri trees are used for the carvings.
This is considered a prestigious art and here is taught to a select few (4-6 young male trainees who must prove maori blood) on an annual basis under the skilled hands of graduate carvers. Their practical training is carried out in the workshop area .
Maori devised a method of producing thread from flax fibre to produce garments.
Te Puia runs training programmes both on site and around New Zealand training students in the art and skills of traditional weaving. Faith demonstrated to us how to get the fibres from the flax leaf and then how to make the patterns using a shell, simple but amazing.
Again one wonders at the ingenuity and creativity of man using available materials to not just clothe and feed himself but to decorate himself and his surroundings.
We again observed some of the students learning the skills. The students happened to be ladies in their 40s, 50s and 60s and some of the beautiful garments made in the traditional manner. It also says something about the present day culture of the Maori, and its status in the world of the 21st century.
Whilst all is not perfect I am sure that The Waitangi Treaty is what makes this all possible, a sharp contrast to my understanding of the the status of the Aborigine in Australia.
Te Puia runs training programmes both on site and around New Zealand training students in the art and skills of traditional weaving. Faith demonstrated to us how to get the fibres from the flax leaf and then how to make the patterns using a shell, simple but amazing.
Again one wonders at the ingenuity and creativity of man using available materials to not just clothe and feed himself but to decorate himself and his surroundings.
Whilst all is not perfect I am sure that The Waitangi Treaty is what makes this all possible, a sharp contrast to my understanding of the the status of the Aborigine in Australia.
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