This is one of my top three destinations. The Maori name is Aotearoa. Historians think that 1000 years ago Polynesian people came from the Cook Islands in huge canoes to settle as Maori in the two islands of New Zealand. Today, the population is 14% of a mostly white population with most of them from Great Britain. I've heard more bagpipes in the South Island than I hear when I go home to Scotland. New Zealanders are called "kiwi" after the flightless bird that has become the national symbol.
In one sense, there are two New Zealands. Latitude 41.00 S degrees, longitude 174.00E. The North Island is colorful in history with sub tropical beaches in the north and awe inspiring volcanic activity in the centre with Rotorua as the main Maori settlement and then there is the South Island which is my favorite. Grand and massive with its lofty Southern Alps dominating much of a landscape that encompasses hills and plains, rivers and lakes. The rivers are the most beautiful blue silver color with run off from the many glaciers.
A great book to read is by New Zealand historian, Michael King, the Penguin History of New Zealand. Wellington is the capital at the southern tip of the North Island and a must see is the Te Papa Museum which has a fantastic display of Maori culture and they hold concerts there regularly.
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The men have lots of tattooing on their body, and the Maori women have it only on their face. One thing I love to see is when the All Blacks Rugby Team perform a haka, war dance, before every game. They do magnificent carving and a very popular piece of jewelry for tourists is a fish hook made out of bone, or a gemstone like jade.
Go attend a Hangi, if you can. This is a Maori feast, great food, and wonderful dancing and singing.
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Take the inter-island ferry between Wellington and Picton, South Island. Its a wonderful three hour journey. Something else I am sold on is the Trans-Alpine train thru the southern alps on the south island. It is one of the top five scenic train journeys in the world.
A great destination, only 3.5 million people. Three million live in the north island, and half a million in the south island with 6 million sheep.
Maureen Jones
Travel Consultant
650-670-5434