Show Outline

During the show you will experience many of the following traditional Maori songs, dances and stories.

The Maori people have a very strong respect for their culture so it is asked that during the formal welcoming ceremony (powhiri) there is to be no talking or laughing as this is considered a very sacred part our show.

• Powhiri - The Kiwi Haka team will welcome you to Queenstown, New Zealand with a ceremonial welcome that is bestowed upon all prestigious guests.
  
  
  • Kaiana (challenge) - The strongest warrior is sent to determine whether you come as friends or foe. The dart is presented as a token of peace.
    
    
  • Karanga (call) from the women is heard once the challenge has been accepted. The high pitched cry is meant to penetrate beyond the physical world and into the spiritual realm.
    
    
  • Mihi (greeting) - One of our men greet our guests in our native tongue, paying homage to our earth mother, sky father and those we have lost, and to welcome our guests.
    
    
  • Nau Mai Haere Mai (action song) – The powhiri is concluded when both men and women join together using traditional moving of the hands, stamping of the feet and harmonious tune.
    
    
• Following the formal welcome ceremony guests are invited to sit back relax and enjoy Maori culture Kiwi Haka style. The performers will take guests through a journey that will demonstrate and explain the use of the poi, Maori weaponry and haka.
  
  
• Waka Hoi (migration) - We now introduce the poi. The theme of this song is the migration which talks about some of the first canoes that arrived in Aotearoa.
  
  
  • Poi: Traditionally used by the warriors to strengthen and supple the wrists for use of weapons such as patu. Nowadays it is used by the women to entertain, to retell history and to inspire our youth to hold on to our cultural knowledge passed down by our ancestors.
    
    
• Maori weaponry - the performers will demonstrate a range of training techniques used to prepare warriors for combat. Patu (short club) and Taiaha (long club) are two traditional hand held close combat weapons. 
  
  
  • Taiaha: A traditional hand held close combat weapon carved in the form of an ancestor. Taiaha are very special treasures that are passed down from generation to generation. The tongue represents oratory skills, the eyes alert, and the feathers adorn the head to distract opponents.
    
    
• Haka: The haka is discipline, used for many ceremonial occasions, to retell our history and to challenge controversial issues impacting on Maori society today, such as the revitalization of our language. This particular haka teaches our young men about the traditional haka art form.
  
  
• The grand finale is an entertainment item that combines the use of all disciplines of Maori performing arts, including the use of tirakau (long sticks) and titorea (short sticks).
  

Restrictions

Please note that the following conditions apply:

• No flash photography or videos is permitted during the performance as it detracts from the experience. However photo opportunities with the Maori performers are available before and after the show at the theatre entrance.
• Food and drink are not permitted to be consumed in the theatre.