From their arrival in the 14th century to today, the Māori have honoured the lands of New Zealand-Aoteroa through kaitiakitanga. This tradition of stewardship is all about managing and sustaining New Zealand’s resources while preserving its beauty, wildlife, and waters in accordance with a Māori worldview. From boarding your Air New Zealand flight to Auckland to stepping off your flight home, kaitakitanga remains an essential part of the New Zealand experience today.
Get things brewing in Sulphur City.
Everyone stops by Rotorua for its geysers and bubbling mud pits, but it also offers a superb introduction to Māori culture. The hangi feast, cooked in a traditional earth oven, has been part of Māori tradition for centuries and feels like an apt illustration of how critical the land is to the Māori. If you’re fortunate enough to see a Māori dance performance, you’ll see how the land influences other arts as well. To understand the Māori as New Zealand’s custodians, there’s no better place to start than in Rotorua.
Explore a car-free paradise.
Hike, bike, or kayak your way along the shores of Abel Tasman National Park (Tōtaranui). The world’s smallest penguin, playful seals (aka “rock sausages”), mighty orcas, and many other creatures populate Abel Tasman and its nearby waterways. The Māori have lived seasonally in the region for almost 700 years, giving its resources time to recover between stays. That legacy of sustainability continues in today’s carbon-neutral, car-free park, found just a short drive from the Marlborough wine region, home to the Sauvignon Blanc served aboard Air New Zealand’s fleet.
Fjords worth pining for.
Colourful birds thrive in New Zealand’s dramatic Fiordland National Park (Te Rua-o-te-moko a.k.a. Shadowland or Pit of Tattooing), but it’s the marine life that steals the show. Dolphins, seals, and whales are often seen in the waters of Milford Sound, while Doubtful Sound is ideal for serious wildlife lovers, with bottle-nosed dolphins, crested penguins and southern fur seals on display. A less popular resident is the sandfly, which the Māori say was sent by the gods to prevent humans from getting too comfortable in this awesome region! Te Anau, the nearest town, is just two hours drive from either Queenstown or Invercargill, both regular Air New Zealand destinations.
Final Tips for Exploring New Zealand’s Natural Heart
- Choose a Māori-guided tour where possible to learn about New Zealand through the eyes, ears, and tastebuds of its custodial culture.
- See playful seal colonies outside Wellington.
- Enjoy some of the world’s best whale watching in Kaikoura.
- Spot rare Hector dolphins in Acorao Harbour, just south of Christchurch.
- Spy elusive kiwis at a hatchery or try your luck on Stewart Island if you’re determined to see one in the wild. Catch the ferry from Invercargill, serviced by nonstop Air New Zealand flights from Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch.
- Marvel at the size of the extinct moa bird at Wellington’s Te Papa Tongarewa museum.
- Feast on fresh, sustainable seafood throughout the country.
- It’s all about the birds and sea life here. There are no native land mammals in New Zealand!
This article was originally published in No. 33 of Globetrotting Magazine.
Christian’s first globetrotting adventure saw him get lost exploring the streets of Saigon. Following his nose to Asia’s best coffee, two lifelong addictions were born. A freelance writer and novelist, Christian’s travels have since taken him around his native Australia, Asia, Europe, and much of North America. His favourite trips have been through Japan, Spain, and Brazil, though with a love of off-beat, artsy cities, he’ll seize any opportunity to return to Paris, New York, or Berlin.
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