More Than a Name
The New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute is now Te Puia. The original name has served well since 1963 when the Institute was established under an Act of Parliament to keep the traditional arts, crafts and culture alive. Te Puia has grown to become one of the most important and most visited tourism destinations in New Zealand, and is a major contributor to the tourism industry in New Zealand.
By changing the name to Te Puia we are able to capture the essence of what is on offer through its three sub brands – Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley, the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, and the Maori cultural experience.
It was of the utmost importance the new name and new brand came from within and were acceptable to the local people and staff, and attractive to visitors. Te Puia is self-funded and reinvests in Maori arts, crafts and culture, so attracting visitors and giving them a memorable and authentic experience is key to its survival.
'Te Puia' literally translates as geyser, and is also the name of a pre-European fortified village within Te Whakarewarewa geothermal valley. It rises above the silica spray of erupting geysers, surrounded by the sounds of nature and voices of visitors from all around the world.
As a name, Te Puia invokes imagination and recalls past deeds and sights within the heart of the geothermal valley. Te Puia humbly stands as a sentinel - protecting the past, while facing forward.
Te Puia was never successfully overrun; it was the last bastion for the local tribe in times of warfare and serves also as a testament to the reactivated energies left by ever present guardians.
The first visitors back in 1965 paid 3 shillings. Forty years later more than twenty million visitors have passed through the world famous ornately carved entrance, and the bar is being raised once again.
Change is good. It keeps focus channelled in the same direction. It ignites curiosity and stimulates inquisitiveness. Haere mai ki Te Puia.
A Nature Walk Like No Other
“Show me and I’ll see, tell me and I’ll hear, involve me and I’ll understand.”
Our new nature walk – He korero tuku iho, stories passed down through time – is a truly interactive experience immersing all visitors in a walk with the people of our land.
With minimal signage, it transcends language barriers and is a totally unique environment designed to surprise and delight and at the same time enlighten visitors in the way the world is viewed through Maori eyes.
He Korero Tuku Iho acts offers tour guides more natural tools to enhance and enrich this unique journey through time, creating spiritual and cultural awareness, respect for the environment, and a better understanding of the descendants who still perpetuate and foster the gifts of their forefathers.