We are at the Tamaki Village and will be welcomed as a visiting Maori tribe to the village, we will also see traditional games, dances, and be at a traditional hangi (food cooked on hot rocks underground).

  Entrance to the village.  A person is on top blowing a shell to announce our arrival.

  This is a warrior from the local village that is testing to see if the chief of the visiting tribe can be intimidated.  If he, the chief, is not intimidated then the tribe comes in peace.

  We walked through a wooded area and saw several activities.  This is a dance with the poi balls.

  This is a close up of  the poi balls that one of the dancers is using.  Notice her chin is painted.

  Two of the men doing a dance.

Inside we were shown several dances and told about the use of the weapons and the history of both.  For example the poi balls are used to make the wrists more supple and improve dexterity.

  A dance with the short sticks.

  He is playing a  flute.

  This is a dance with the long poi balls.

  This one is about the Great White Heron.

  This is part of the Haka dance (war dance).  Sticking out the tongue is a way to intimidate others and to say that I will eat your flesh.

  More of the Haka.  Large facial expressions are used as intimidation.