Selwyn Heights

Spoiler alert: This post is going to be long because tonight was absolutely phenomenal!!!! 😆

This evening around 5 Felix and I headed out to Mitai which is a Maori cultural experience run here in Rotorua. Warner was our bus driver and he was quite witty which I enjoyed.

Upon arrival we were offered a small snack from a Maori girl. We were then assigned to our table where we met a family from Brisbane and a couple from Buenos Aires.

Eventually a man introduced himself as Tama. He was a short ish man (there is a picture with him and I included) with a loud voice and a big heart. He started with basic introductions and a small Maori vocabulary lesson. After introducing himself he encouraged us as a "tribe" (family) to state our home countries. There were a total of 15 nations represented from all over the globe which was incredible.

After these introductions finished Tama explained that he would need a male over the age of 18 to act as the chief for the evening. After just a few seconds I decided to volunteer and I'm so incredibly happy that I did because it made my evening and my exeriencte exonentially better than it already would have been! Soon after he explained what my roles would be and my first official act as chief was to exchange a proper greeting with Tama. So I went up in front of everyone and we exchanged a proper Maori greeting which was so neat! So you join noses and then your foreheads together (obviously with your eyes closed) then kind of pull back and do it once more. This time while connected you both take a deep breath. This was such an incredible bonding experience. I wish it was more customary here and back home!

After this we departed out on a small tour of the area. There was also a small demonstration of Maori culture with the men (about seven) coming down the stream in a narrow canoe. After Tama explained what I would have to do. There would b a peace ceremony in which I would take part and give a brief speech to the actual chief of their tribe! (Turned out to be the chiefs son but still pretty freaking cool!) I would also get to do a formal greeting with the chiefs son. I was beyond excited.

As we piled into what I would describe as a big tent type theatre. Because I was chief I got to sit right front and centre! Also this got Felix a nice seat too. The presentation began with the chief talking and a brief introduction in Maori. There was also another tribe of people who's chief was an older gentleman named Jon from Michigan. When the peace offering began we were both guided to the stage. Two warriors from the tribe including the chief entered the stage. They walked slowly toward us stopping just over halfway and dropped a small tree branch on the ground. Then they went into an aggressive state of dance and yelling and showing off their weapons to display their testosterone and masculinity. Jon began by accepting one of the peace offerings and I followed.

Once the peace offering was accepted we gave our speeches. Again Jon began and I followed. I introduced myself with a welcome. Then as Terrence the chief of 15 nations. I explained how thankful we were to be given such an opportunity and to be his guest for the evening. And how we much looked forward to many more evenings as such. 😊 I felt my commerce background was helpful for my speech giving!

The chief then began the rest of the presentation which involved all sorts of things. There was singing. Dancing. Weapon displays. Instrument displays. It was absolutely phenomenal. Then we headed back to the dining tent. Here Tama explained that the chief was really impressed with my speech and that I was one of the youngest chiefs to ever volunteer here. This was such an honor and I felt very proud with my role in the evenings events 😊

Shortly after we were fed an official Maori Hangi (pronounced hung-gee) which was quite possibly one of the best meals I have ever eaten in my entire life. The meal that I ate (which wasn't even everything) included the following: sweet potato, scalloped potato, baked potato, seafood chowder, garlic toast, Chicken, lamb, gravy, and salad. Then my dessert included: a chocolate roll, steam pudding (cake), and pavlova. Wow what a meal. So stuffed.

Afterwards the tribe went for a late night nature hike. It involved a brief breakdown of their old homes and what they were made of. Then we went on a hike and found some glow worms which was really quite neat. And then that was that. The tour was over. The night was over. I got a quite photo with Tama and then headed back onto the bus.

Then after I got back I met this group of five American guys who are just finishing med school. They were really cool and even invited me to join them at Hobbiton tomorrow in their van which halves the cost of going so i think I'll do that!

WHAT A DAY!!!

-Terrence (ever so happily) outRead more