Māori Cultural Experience and General Admission
4.5
Māori Cultural Experience and General Admission
By Auckland Museum
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About
Māori Cultural Experience: Living Taonga
Taonga is the Māori word meaning treasure, or something prized. Māori culture is a living taonga of Aotearoa New Zealand.
In this immersive experience, be introduced to Māori culture by a group of esteemed indigenous artists and orators. Our Māori Cultural Experience will take you on a journey. You will hear beautiful songs, see incredible poi skills in action and learn about the endurance of Māori people throughout history.
Discover the origins, traditional uses, and differences of the well-known and powerful ritual – the haka.
This unique, enriching experience is not to be missed if you’re seeking a genuine insight into Māori culture.
General Admission Tickets to the Museum are included with this booking.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-120
Duration: 45–180 minutes
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
- Māori Cultural Performance ticket
- General Admission entry to Auckland Museum
What's not included- Special exhibition entry for ticketed exhibitions
- Guided tours
- Entry/Admission - Auckland Museum
- Start:
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, Parnell, Auckland 1010, New ZealandPlease visit the ticket desk in the South Atrium or Grand Foyer
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Wheelchair accessible
- Pushchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 14401P5- Most travellers can participate
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 14401P5
From
$67.00
per adult
Select date and travellers
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- jaynebR8437YS0 contributionsNice museum and learnt quite a bitNice museum and friendly staff. As visitors we paid but locals get in free. Bit disappointed that the feature exhibition was extra chargeWritten 30 January 2025
- jonfF6639NX0 contributionsThe place to go to get a good introduction to New ZealandNot a world-class museum (for example, the dinosaurs are all reproductions), but fun to go through, with many exhibits, giving a good overview of New Zealand's culture, history and fauna. It's an entertaining way to get an easy understanding of the country.Written 25 January 2025
- RockyBubbles0 contributionsThis museum is misleading and far over priced.I visited this museum on my recent trip to Auckland and found it to be misleading by its name and over priced. It is listed on the Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus map as the War Memorial Museum, however there is very little war memorail about it. It is more a cultural museum, so I found the name misleading thinking it was a war Memorial Museum like Canberra. They charge NZ$42 entry fee and there are no discounts for pensioners or veterans, however, if you are an Aucklander you get in for free. It appears that the free entry is because the Museum is run by the Auckland City Council and not the Government of NZ. The displays are nothing spectacular, and I found it to be a very poor display in regard to the NZ Vietnam veterans.Written 21 January 2025
- LYNETTE C0 contributionsGreat day at the museumWe had a fantastic time at the museum. It is so big with 3 levels and so much to see. A coffee break half way through, excellent.Written 19 January 2025
- susanaR572GD0 contributionsHaving a tour is a good ideaFascinating museum with many interesting artifacts that we would not have understood if we hadnt had such a knowledgeable museum guide showing us around.Written 12 January 2025
- angchweeleng0 contributionsAuckland Domain, Museum and Winter GardenInteresting exhibits and information that will give you a good understanding of the history of NZ and its people. It will take you a whole day if you spend time at each exhibit. The Museum is part of the Auckland Domain and you will want to visit the Winter Garden a couple of hundred metres awayWritten 9 January 2025
- Sooz1150 contributionsIf you want propaganda visit. If you want fact then stay away!!Not long back from Auckland but while there we decided to visit the museum. Big disappointment. A distorted Woke view on NZ history. Maori were NOT the first people to live here. And everyone born on land is indigenous to that land. No mention of Europeans arriving here. An entire museum devoted to propaganda history.Written 9 January 2025
- mwhamburger0 contributionsNot only a War museum but also has a floor the depicts the Maori Life and Culturethe museum offers a great tribute to those who sacrificed their lives during WWI and II, albeit depressing to realize the waste of human life. Before exploring those floors we were introduced to the Haka dance. Well done. You're told when you can and cannot take photos. The museum also has a marvelous exhibit of the Maori life and their culture. Fascinating and a must see. Allow a min. of 2 hrs. for everything.Written 9 January 2025
- Yorksholidaygirl0 contributionsExcellent museum and great value for money. An education.An amazing collection of history of this land and its people. First time visitor to NZ and we learned so much. The WW 1 & 2 exhibits on the top floor were extremely poignant and whoever curated this section has done an expert job. The stories and reality along with the sadness of the sacrifices made was spot on, the history of the indigenous communities was an education for me and so much to take in, it made me want to find out more. As international tourists we paid to enter and it was worth every penny. We spent 4. 1/2 hours here and only left because they were closing. In my top 5 of world museums… and I’ve been to many .Written 8 January 2025
- GeneralShamu0 contributionsHalf-Day VisitWe came here on a Saturday morning to have a one hour guided tour that actually turned out to be private because no one else joined. The tour ended up running about ninety minutes because it was so engaging and there is so much to see in this museum. If you are into museums and reading into things in detail, you could easily spend a full day here. We allotted half a day and it still wasn't enough. The volcano sections and natural history sections were quite interesting. The museum is fully wheelchair and stroller/pushcar friendly.Written 4 January 2025
- lynncL6498DC0 contributionsMaori culture show No longer a must do -Compared with our experience five years ago we were disappointed- no conch shell welcome call; the venue is not as fun as when you started at the big Waka as in years past- the brief poi was the best part, the Haka wasn’t similar to normal Haka’s - 30 minutes long so quite expensive if you are on a time limit and can’t enjoy the museum- how about a few price options- show only or show and museum visit? The restaurant was good with lovely service.Written 25 December 2024
- nseitzman0 contributionsAgree with others that this is worth a visit!Definitely worth a visit! You could do an hour version or spend the whole day here, especially if you’re into the various war exhibits on the top floor. We spent an hour walking around the Domain which is just outside (including the plant houses and watching some cricket played in the park). Our 4 and 6 year olds especially liked the volcano exhibits and the 3D movie. Auckland residents visit free, New Zealand citizens are free also with a suggested donation, and it’s affordable for international visitors (if you purchase the skip-the-line tickets on TripAdvisor like we did they just look at your booking email and print your tickets for you!).Written 20 December 2024
- AllyT430 contributionsLots to seeA rainy day is the best day to visit the museum. There are a lot of great exhibits and the cafe has good food. There are lockers for suitcases and other bags if your are just coming in and your hotel is not ready yet!Written 19 December 2024
- jackwK7924FX0 contributionsWhat a great museumSpent a worthwhile visit at the museum to familiarize myself with New Zealand. Appreciated the extensive exhibitions of Maori and Polynesian cultures. Have a better appreciation of New Zealand's contributions in the two world wars.Written 17 December 2024
- hpgoh0 contributionsPowerful narrativesVideos and exhibits were extremely informative and updated. Definitely worth at least a few hours of your time to read every label. Café at entrance. Beautiful grassland outside for more photos at this scenic location.Written 11 December 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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4.5
40 reviews
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Laetitia F
8 contributions
Great experience. An immersion in Maori culture through a performance of traditional haka/prayers/songs. The narrator's speech was imbued with emotions, a desire to transmit his culture and at the same time to make us understand their interest in preserving it.
I highly recommend taking this "extra" when visiting the museum.
I highly recommend taking this "extra" when visiting the museum.
Automatically translated
Written 4 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheLeongOhana
United States7,760 contributions
We purchased tickets for the non-resident museum admission and also the Māori performance. It was the first performance of the day so there were a lot of available seats.
We rode the elevator to the top floor and waited in the lobby until one of the performers came out to greet us.
We were informed that all visitors could only take photo during certain parts of the performance which came after the welcoming introductions and the group’s Hakka.
The stage was small but gave the performance more intimacy. I believe the performance lasted around half an hour and was educational engaging.
At the end, all of the performers lined up outside the theatre to thank us and answered any questions we had.
Good intro to Māori culture if pressed for time.
We rode the elevator to the top floor and waited in the lobby until one of the performers came out to greet us.
We were informed that all visitors could only take photo during certain parts of the performance which came after the welcoming introductions and the group’s Hakka.
The stage was small but gave the performance more intimacy. I believe the performance lasted around half an hour and was educational engaging.
At the end, all of the performers lined up outside the theatre to thank us and answered any questions we had.
Good intro to Māori culture if pressed for time.
Written 28 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BOJ4415
Sydney, Australia201 contributions
Jan 2024 • Solo
You will need to purchase a separate ticket for this show (NZD30) in addition to the general admission ticket (if there are vacancies, you can arrange one on-site). Also, the performance is limited to two times a day (11:45 and 13:45), so be sure to check the time when you visit. The haka is a familiar sight performed before the start of a rugby match, but seeing it live is extremely powerful. The performers appear to have had proper vocal training, and they created an exquisite harmony. Recording during the performance is prohibited, but taking photos without a flash is OK.

Written 21 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
マオリ文化パフォーマンスについてのレビューをいただきありがとうございます。ご訪問を楽しんでいただけたことを嬉しく思います。
Written 7 February 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
keule2016
Nuremberg, Germany5 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
Compared to the performance we have seen aroun 10 years ago it was a little bit disappointing because the whole show was performed by only 5 maori. Last time it was a whole group and the sound / voices were more different.
This time it was not allowed to take pictures after the show with the performer!
This time it was not allowed to take pictures after the show with the performer!
Written 1 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
natclay
Quinns Rocks, Australia216 contributions
We arrived at 10 am and spent a couple of hours exploring the exhibitions. The museum has a nice mixture of culture and history. The north entrance has a small coffee shop and the south entrance has a large restaurant and shop. I highly recommend the cultural performance, it was a wonderful demonstration of music, dance and culture. Thoroughly enjoyed it. The volcano exhibit was also interesting and unique.
Written 3 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora, thank you so much for your wonderful review. It's awesome that you enjoyed the wide range of what's on offer during your visit, including the Māori cultural performance.
Written 7 May 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
verity31
London, UK6 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
Really great museum with many different sections. The absolute highlight was the Maori performance, had no idea it was on but told when buying our tickets. What a beautiful and moving performance it was, they explained and taught us things throughout the performance which meant you could understand about the culture and their symbolic dances, very powerful, can't recommend enough.
Written 3 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora, thank you for sharing your wonderful experience at the Māori cultural performance with us. It's awesome to hear that you learned something new about this special part of our culture.
Written 7 April 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
andreasam91
Auckland Central, New Zealand2,814 contributions
Nov 2024 • Friends
In this museum is summarized all the history of New Zealand as well as some artifacts from the nearby islands. We spent about 5 hours there but actually you could stay inside a whole day. Three floors ranging between history, fauna and the conformity of the territory of New Zealand. On the top floor the very interesting war museum especially the part where the advance of New Zealand troops in Italy is explained
Automatically translated
Written 14 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
evertoncummings
London, UK1,469 contributions
I did not give myself time to get around all this museum’ you need a day.this museum is so vast and full of all that is good in New Zealand . Staff have taken there time and put all of that history is order. Some surprises’ like the earthquake room. ‘Give this a try’ and the Volcano area. It’s a-day you and family will enjoy. There is a great cafeteria area and staff at hand at all stations over the museum.
Written 20 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anonymous855
Trabuco Canyon, California1,793 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
It is a gorgeous building and they have a wonderful curation of artifacts. This was the wonderful part. On the other side, as an international visitor we bought separate tickets to the cultural experience and although we read you could take photos afterward, the Maori group declined. The narrator/leader of the group sounded angry throughout the performance and I was not uplifted by the event...just chastised.
Written 26 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richie Bee
Okinawa City, Japan33 contributions
Jan 2024 • Friends
If you have time to spend at least a half of the day at the cultural center you need to! And if you do you MUST see this performance. Not only is it worth the money, but it is a respectful and fascinating immersion into the Maori culture that was so moving it brought me to tears! To witness a haka alone is a once in a lifetime experience.
A must see!!
A must see!!
Written 25 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora Richie, thank you for taking the time to leave such a detailed review. It's absolutely wonderful to hear how much the performance resonated with you. Mā te wā!
Written 27 March 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Will the tour allow me to access the museum before the Māori Cultural Experience
Written 29 September 2024
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