Great Waitangi Day Welcome for New Zealanders
Te Puia, New Zealand’s leading cultural tourism attraction incorporating the New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute and Te Whakarewarewa thermal reserve is throwing open its doors to New Zealanders this Waitangi Day at a fraction of its usual entrance fee.
Te Puia Marketing Manager, Kelly Whitehead says that the token $10 entrance fee for adults and kids for free special offered for Waitangi Day (Proof of ID will be required eg NZ passport or NZ Drivers License) is designed to “encourage New Zealanders to gather up their friends and family and embrace the spirit of this national day by learning something new about Maori culture in this unique setting that is both historically and culturally significant to all New Zealanders.”
The initiative is a first for Te Puia and is in keeping with the educational and cultural objectives of Te Puia under the Maori Arts & Crafts Act whereby a primary aim is to promote the preservation and understanding of Maori Arts, Crafts and Culture.
In addition to the usual range of attractions and interactive activities, Waitangi Day visitors to Te Puia will experience a day of celebrations that will commence at 10am and continue until 3pm. These will be centred around the Pikirangi Village setting where visitors can interact with local carvers and weavers who will demonstrate their craft. Two special outdoor cultural performances 11.15am and 1.15 pm will be held on Te Rotowhio Marae.
Ms Whitehead says that New Zealanders are “an integral part of Te Puia” and hopes that this Waitangi Day special will mean that they don’t wait until they have international visitors to make the trip to this iconic attraction and to learn something new about their country and culture.”
Te Puia Contact
Kelly Whitehead
Sales & Marketing Manager
Phone: (07) 343 1862
Mobile: 027 289 3201
Email: kelly@tepuia.com
Rotorua, 30 January 2008