Northland Maori Culture

Want to see the place where New Zealand's human history began? Explore fascinating Māori culture. Get yourself up to Northland on the North Island.

Northland sits at the northernmost tip of New Zealand's North Island. The number of times the word 'north' appeared in that sentence should tip you off about how easy it is to navigate your way here; just follow the map upwards, basically.

Once you get to Northland, you'll be in a region where Māori settlers first arrived more than a thousand years ago. Since then, so much has changed, but the Māori past and present can still be experienced through a range of amazing cultural attractions that are among the most rewarding things to do in Northland.

So where to go first? Take a look at our overview of Māori culture in the area below and start putting together your itinerary. Trip planning is fun when your destination is this packed with promise.

Maori History

  • When you stand on the coastline, remember that this is the sight the first people to arrive here saw when they arrived from far across the seas in a waka (canoe).
  • Learn the name Kupe; it's important to much more than just local history! He was the leader of those first adventurers, and many Māoris today are descended from him.
  • Northland is the site of some of the most ancient remains of a Māori kāinga (settlement) anywhere in the country.

Maori Culture Today

  • Today, Northland's Māori culture exists alongside threads of Scottish, Croatian and English influence, among others.
  • Māoris are still a prominent community in Northland. Their dancient cultural and spiritual traditions are still practised here.
  • Want to learn how Māoris prepare food in a hāngī (earth oven)? Discover why kauri trees are so significant; Northland's Māori community can show you.

Maori Cultural Attractions

  • A visit to Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where you can learn all about New Zealand's story and the treaty between Māoris and Europeans, is a must-do.
  • Let a Māori guide lead you into beautiful Waipoua Forest to meet Tāne Mahuta, a 2,000-year-old kauri tree that's the largest in the country.
  • Head out on an immersive multi-day tour where you can really dive into Māori culture. You might get to learn to navigate the Māori way, paddle a waka and more.

Created in partnership with Northland RDO

Northland activities

$60

per adult
Recommended 100% by Travellers

Take a relaxed tour of Kerikeri, visit a chocolate factory, and sip local wines at a boutique vineyard. Learn about settlers in the 1800s as you explore some

$9

per traveller

Discover a piece of New Zealand's heritage at the Kauri Museum. The museum provides a peek into the region's pioneering days and showcases the legacy of the

$130

per adult

Travel via waka taua (war canoe) through the Bay of Islands to experience the culture of the Ngapuhi people, New Zealand’s largest tribal Maori group. Your

$149

per adult
Recommended 96% by Travellers

Sail out to the Bay of Islands on the historic R. Tucker Thompson tall ship. Explore the 144 islands and have a chance to steer the ship, hoist the sail, and

$253

per adult
Recommended 88% by Travellers

Journey to the Bay of Islands on this day tour from Auckland and explore the historic sites of Waitangi and Russell. Visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and

Twilight Forest Encounter

By Footprints Waipoua

Embark on a journey through the spiritual environment of the Waipoua Forest, a natural stage with some of the largest remaining kauri trees in the world.

$267

per traveller

Cruise out across the Bay of Islands for 2 days of classic adventure. This voyage gives you spectacular views of the North Island's coast as you try target

$433

per adult
Recommended 100% by Travellers

Take in the majestic landscapes of New Zealand’s North Island from both air and land where 2 scenic flights give you unforgettable bird’s-eye views of the

How to get to Northland