Kiwi

We did get to see a kiwi and it wasn’t in a zoo! It was at a kiwi hatchery. We went at night because kiwi are active only at night. It was billed as “Kiwi Encounter is unlike any other ‘attraction’ you may have visited.” Well it was unlike any ‘attraction’ we have visited, but also we had never seen a kiwi. It was dark they don’t stand still long, Mary saw two and I saw one. Kiwi are flightless birds and had no predator until man arrived several hundred years ago bringing with him dogs, pigs and rats all which prey on kiwis.

While the kiwi was great to see, the event we went to see was the Mitai. An evening that gave us an authentic introduction to the Maori culture leaving us amazed and in awe. We were enthralled by the natural bush setting, we saw warriors in traditional dress paddling a waka (ancient warrior war canoe).and we didn’t miss the opportunity to see glow worms! We marveled at the crystal clear water flowing directly from the earth at Fairy Spring.

We saw our traditional hangi meal being lifted from the ground. During the cultural performance we learned about the Maori past, carvings and ta moko (tattoo art).
We were captivated by the displays of weaponry and combat coupled with the grace and beauty of the poi dance and a spine tingling haka finale.