Festivals In New Zealand

Maori Festivals

There are two certain fetivals for Maori people. The first one is when they celebrate the Treaty of Waitangi on 6th feb and the second is the Queen's Coronation in August.( The present Maori Queen is NGARUAWAHIA )

When they celebrate the festival, firstly they will welcome their guests, friends and everybody who wants to join them, at that time they stand at the gate (They call it the "POWHIRI"). A cultural Performance is the main activity, before they do it they do a "POI dance",and the men dance the "HAKA", it means either war or welcome. They have speechs after that for special dignitories. Then they have a "HANGI", that means they will have a meal and food.

In public holiday, for example, Christmas and New year, they don't celebrate,but if they like they can have a festival at any time, for example, they think about something special and they want to remember this day. For example, several weeks ago, they held an exposition, in which there were some dancing, singings and intrdoctions, actually it's a festival. Maori people are presented in every espect of their life.

As for special events, such as birthdays, weddings and funerals, they don't have any special activities. But they pay more attention to the 5 years old birthday, 16th and 21th, because 5th means they start school, 16th Puberty, 21th become an adult.

Maori people have approximately 50 tribes, some festivals depend on the different tribes, different trips celebrate different occasion, so they can't be included.