Our Culture
Māori culture is an integral part of life in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
For millennia, Māori have been the tangata whenua, the indigenous people of Aotearoa.
Let's work together...
We have the local knowledge
and want to connect you.
Our region has established protocols and systems, experienced crew and connections to private owners, Iwi and DOC to assist your production. Hawke’s Bay is accessible with both Napier and Hastings only 30 minutes from the region’s airport and port. Or Central Hawke’s Bay or Wairoa are just up the road.
Let us take care of you.
100% Pure NZ
This is a must watch and visit the website
To understand our culture and experience our traditions we invite you to explore the 100% Pure New Zealand website. It provides a rich array of materials to view and listen to. It is important to understand that when coming to New Zealand our culture is at the heart of everything we do. Our people, our land, our water is what is important to us.
What makes us unique?
Ngāti Kahungunu
The Iwi of Te Matau-a-Māui
In Hawke’s Bay our local iwi (tribe) is Ngāti Kahungunu. Ngāti Kahungunu is the third largest tribal group in New Zealand. Although it is generally referred to as an iwi (tribe), like a number of other iwi it is perhaps more correct to consider Ngāti Kahungunu a grouping of tribes and hapū (sub tribes), all of whom are descendants of Kahungunu.
Matariki
The Māori New Year and time to Harvest
Twinkling in the winter sky just before dawn, Matariki (the Pleiades) signals the Māori New Year. For Māori, the appearance of Matariki heralds a time of remembrance, joy and peace. It is a time for communities to come together and celebrate. In the 2000s, it became more common for both Māori and Pākehā to celebrate Matariki. Since 2022, a public holiday marking Matariki has been held in June or July each year. We hope you can join us to celebrate Matariki in our region.