About Te Pā Tū
Beneath a canopy of native tawa trees, powerful chanting, song and traditional instruments carry through the forest village. Stories unfold through performance and warm conversation before guests gather for a seasonal Māori feast, turning the evening into a celebration of culture, connection and hospitality.
The Story of This Place
Te Pā Tū is a seasonal celebration of Māori culture, stories and cuisine. Each experience follows the maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar, allowing the programme to change with the rhythms and traditions of the year. The summer Tū Te Rā and winter Tū Te Ihi programmes each have their own stories, themes and flavours.
Cultural Significance
Te Pā Tū is grounded in manaakitanga, the Māori value of caring for others and strengthening relationships through generosity and hospitality, and kaitiakitanga, the responsibility to protect the natural world for future generations. Together, these values shape how guests are welcomed, how knowledge is shared and how the relationship between people and the natural environment is honoured throughout the evening.
The experience is also guided by the maramataka (Māori lunar calendar), connecting its stories, traditions and seasonal cuisine with the natural rhythms of the year.
The Experience of Visiting
The evening begins with a traditional Māori welcome before guests enter the native tawa forest for storytelling, music, cultural performance and seasonal canapés. Hosts share traditions and knowledge shaped by the maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar, before guests gather for a seasonal Māori fusion feast featuring hāngī, food cooked in an underground earth oven. The experience concludes with a poroporoaki, or farewell ceremony.
Natural Features
The experience unfolds among the native tawa trees of Tawa-ngāhere-pā, the forest within the village. Their broad, leafy canopy creates a sheltered and atmospheric setting for parts of the welcome, storytelling and cultural performance, while indoor spaces are used when required by the weather.
Good to Know
- The summer Tū Te Rā, or Summer Harvest Celebration, runs from October to April and lasts approximately 3.5 hours.
- The winter Tū Te Ihi, or Winter Matariki Celebration, runs from May to September and lasts approximately 3 hours.
- Both include cultural storytelling and performance, and a seasonal Māori feast.
Stories Shared Along the Way
Te Pā Tū’s hosts share personal connections to the traditions presented throughout the evening. They explain the meaning behind the haka, a ceremonial dance or challenge, the pōhiri, a traditional welcome ceremony, and poi, a performing art using tethered balls whose movements can reflect the natural world. Guests also learn why sharing food is an important part of welcoming visitors and creating connection.
Little-Known Facts
Te Pā Tū’s cultural performers do not simply leave the stage once the performance ends. They circulate among guests during the feast, creating opportunities for hosts and visitors to share stories and learn about one another’s cultures.
Te Pā Tū is owned by Tauhara North No.2 Trust, whose people descend from Ngāti Tahu and Ngāti Whāoa tribes. The experience is intended to celebrate Māori history, create employment and sustain the land, stories and people connected to it.
The programme changes with the Māori seasons. Summer’s Tū Te Rā centres on harvest, warfare and peace, while winter’s Tū Te Ihi draws on Matariki through ritual, energy and passion.
One Thing to Know
This is an interactive evening rather than a conventional stage performance, with opportunities to engage with hosts and experience Māori culture through welcome, performance and shared food.