Professional and extremely informative experience. The mana of this house and it's whanau really... read more
Professional and extremely informative experience. The mana of this house and it's whanau really... read more
A wonderful experience that broadens and deepens your knowledge of Maori and local culture. Highly... read more
We arrived with no booking and were the only people in the visitor centre which is beautifully laid out with helpful and knowledgeable staff available but never pushy.
We booked the tour later that day and found when we got back there were just the two of us. Thought it might be a bit awkward but the genuine welcome and the personality of the guide made it such a lovely experience.
Add the way the history is presented, the audio visual history, the bread, cake and tea, the complete lack of commerciality and the beauty of the house and you have the perfect way to spend a couple of hours.
We didn't go to any other Maori experiences while in NZ, why go somewhere inferior after this?
This is a spectacular wharenui and what an amazing tour to match. The tangata whenua were so warm and welcoming. The culture, the history and the learning about this wharenui and the tangata whenua is just amazing. I Highly recommend to visit this beautiful, historic one of a kind place. I honestly can't stop thinking about what a spectacular amazing place is it.
We were so welcomed by Tome our host, as we were formally introduced to their ancestral home. A delight to say the the least.
Fortunately, this was our very first Maori experience, and it was very personal and moving. Highly recommend!! I think any other more commercialized Maori experience will pale in comparison.
Kia ora retiredbutnotexpired (great handle btw!)
Thanks so much for your complimentary review, it’s great to know our commitment to delivering genuine and authentic cultural experiences is appreciated!
Thanks again!
Ngā mihi mahana
Te whānau @ Mataatua!
If you are looking to learn more about the culture and history of the Maori people this spectacular tour will leave you speechless. I had no idea what to expect, and while I won’t share everything I learned I can tell you the light show was one of the highlights of the experience. The people who work there are so genuine and authentic - I felt completely welcomed into their home. Also, if you pick the longer tour (I recommend it) know that they will feed you a light snack at the end of the tour. Culturally significant and historically important, this was my favorite thing to do in Whakatane.
Kia ora 515nicoleg,
Thanks so much for your kind words, we're really humbled you thought so much of the time you spent with us. Our team here feel very privileged to be able to share the uniqueness of our Ngāti Awa culture with visitors, and it's awesome to know our commitment to always be genuine and authentic is appreciated and valued.
Thank you again for the wonderful compliments and we hope to see you again at Mataatua one day!
Ngā mihi mahana
The whānau @ Mataatua
Time constraints stopped us doing the tour but we managed the short video (highly interesting) and had a look around the entry area. Lovely staff there - all very friendly and helpful. Next time we'll definitely do the tour - have been on a number of Marae in the past and this one looks to have an extra reason for visiting. Highly recommend
Kia ora Grant N,
Sorry for not responding earlier, but we just wanted to thank you for your awesome feedback. Although you didn't get time to do one of the experiences, we're pleased to know you enjoyed the video and were well looked after while you were there.
We hope to see you back here at Mataatua one day, but in the mean time: kia haumaru te hāere e hoa - travel safe my friend!
Ngā mihi mahana
The whānau @ Mataatua