Te Puia, Maori cultural center

This center in Rotorua has hot springs, geysers, and mud pools as well as Maori statues, arts, and culture.

In front of the active geyser Pohutu.

Be careful when sitting! These are active vents and warm stones.

Mud pools.

This is a natural stream vent cooker that the Maori uses to cook food. Our food tonight will be cooked this way. It can cook corn on the cob in 10 minutes. It uses heart from the ground to cook food.

Whanaaungatanga statue that celebrates kinship which is essential in Maori.

According to legend, this pool was used by leaders of the Maori tribe and is sacred. However it has the pH of battery acid.

Puarenga stream. 3 streams feed in here and water quality had declined from industry. Finally water quality has improved and fish have returned.

An elevated storehouse used by Maori.

The bridge to the cultural center.

Women weaving with flax.

Beautiful Maori carvings.

Some weavings are made to look like the NZ bird, the kiwi. These would take many years to complete.

After touring the center we headed to the Best western Braeside Rotorua. We have a hot tub on a deck. This is a nice place to stay (all places on this trip have been great actually). Tonight we go to a traditional Maori great and dance celebration.