Māori traditions are an integral part of Kiwi culture. Without them, New Zealand would be a vastly different place. Māori traditions are embedded in greetings, ceremonies, art, design, and more. You cannot travel to New Zealand without learning, exploring, and appreciating Māori culture. The first class I signed up for was a Māori history class. I did this because I wanted to make sure that I was appreciating their culture, not appropriating it. This is important when traveling because that which you might find new, exciting and different is someone else's way of life and culture. It needs to be respected.
The first tradition I learned about is the hongi. This is a sign of respect and a traditional greeting. It is done by pressing your nose and forehead against someone elses nose and forehead, putting your hand on their back and then breathing in their mana (life force). It is like shaking hands but more intimate and meaningful. This tradition is most commonly practiced by Māori people, butother non-Māori Kiwi's often do it, too!
The second tradition is the haka, which is a Māori war dance. The dance was made known globally by the New Zealand rugby team, the All Blacks. It consists of powerful movements and dramatic facial expressions.
