Winners of both the Māori Tourism Award and Resilience & Innovation Award at the New Zealand Tourism Awards 2023.

Tū Te Rā

Summer Harvest Celebration

Tū Te Rā is a summer celebration, aligned with the maramataka – the Māori lunar calendar. This is a time when the sun expresses optimal energy, the days are longer, and light nourishes the natural world.

Tū Te Rā celebrates the abundant harvest of this season, and explores concepts, rituals, and stories of ancient Māori warfare and peace in a feast of culture and cuisine

Food Kai
People Tangata

Hōtaka

Itinerary

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Return transport from central Rotorua.

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Haka pōhiri (cultural welcome) on arrival.

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Kapahaka performed in our forest-formed amphitheatre, Tūāpapa.

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Forest kai horotai (summer season canapés).

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A shared celebration of stories, pastimes and connection within the Tawa forest.

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View hāngī (earth oven) lifting and spit roast.

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Our unique menu blends tradition and innovation, with the very best of local, seasonal fare.

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Wharekai (dining space) for hākari Tū Te Rā (the feast). Complimentary digestif: chef’s choice.

Pārongo

Information

This four-hour evening is a feast of knowledge as well as divine seasonal kai (cuisine) within our forest Pā (sanctuary), its tawa trees and crackling bonfires.

Kai horotai (morsels) welcome guests with seasonal favourites that may include crispy pork and candied apple encased in kawakawa leaves, pāua (abalone), pickled pikopiko (native fern frond), smoked fish, ika mata (ceviche) and chilled kawakawa tea.

Within the forest-formed amphitheatre attention shifts to stories relayed through haka, song and drama, before torch light guides manuhiri (guests) to an al fresco dining space with three-course feast.

The famous hāngī shares a table with Māori fusion dishes developed and curated by celebrated Māori chefs, prepared by our own ringawera (hot hands). We serve dinner al fresco on warmer nights and in our wharekai (dining room) if the weather is inclement.

Celebration Includes

— Transport to/from central city
— Haka Pōwhiri
— Four hours haka, song, connection
— Forest kai horotai (summer season canapes)
— Complimentary chef choice aperitif
— Seasonal three-course dinner

Whakaurunga

Admission

Child
$ 110
Adult
$ 260
NZD
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