Maori Tours Kaikoura
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OPENING HOURS: Daily Tour times - 9am & 1.30pm
COST: Private single party bookings for up to 10 guests: November to March – $1300.00 | April to October – $1100.00
Maori Tours Kaikoura is the first Maori cultural experience to be offered in Kaikoura. The business was set up by Maurice and Heather Manawatu and has been operating since January 2002.
Maurice is from the hapu (sub-tribe) Ngati Kuri, and the iwi (main tribe) is Ngai Tahu. Heather is of mainly Scots and Irish descent. Many of their whanau (extended family) are involved in the business and have been from the beginning.
Our family have worked in tourism for a long time, the combined experience of Heather and Maurice alone spans more than 50 years.
They say ""Hosting visitors, making them feel welcome and creating new friendships comes naturally - we can't imagine doing anything else.
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Showing 8 reviews of 47.
Anthony Jacobs
Ranking: 10/10
This was a really great tour and histor lesson of Kaikoura and a must do. I travelled with my tourism class which has a number of international students, so was very eye opening for them but our whole class learning some of the maori traditions, for some it was there first powhiri and hongi. They really did value this tour highly above many of the other activities kaikoura has to offer. Thank you.
Maori Tours Kaikoura responds:
Kia ora Anthony, thank you so much for posting this review. The feedback is awesome and I'll be sure to pass on to Parata and Lorraine as well. We thoroughly enjoyed sharing part of the day with you and it was a real challenge for us to get you to the kayaking as we're a little bit famous for running overtime. All the best to everyone for your continued studies and we hope to meet some of you again as you enter the wonderful tourism industry.
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Dave Purdie
Ranking: 10/10
Maurice, Heather and the team have provided Maori cultural experiences for my high school Tourism class for the past three years running. Their product has been consistently professional, relevant and engaging for my students. I thoroughly recommend their tours to anyone keen to learn about Kaikoura from a Maori perspective
Maori Tours Kaikoura responds:
Dave, thanks for posting this. We always enjoy your tourism students; they are well behaved and a credit to the school. Hope to see you again next year. Thanks again - Heather
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ilene resnick
Ranking: 10/10
There were 9 of us traveling together, ages 13 - 80 and on our second day in New Zealand we had a private tour with Rebecca and her brother in law.
We each loved the tour! They made it personal and genuine. We really felt like we were getting a view into the world of the Maori, their culture and their ways. Cannot say enough good things about it, and would do it again!
Maori Tours Kaikoura responds:
Kia ora Ilene, thank you very much for posting this review about your families time with us. We enjoyed meeting you all when you stopped by for afternoon tea. I'll be sure to give Rebecca and Parata the feedback as well. Thanks again - Heather.
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R5 Cheviot
Ranking: 10/10
Maori Tours, this was fun because we got to see some very old trees and drink pepper leaf tea. Some totara were tiny after 1 year of living through to hundreds of thousands of years old. We found out some names of trees, we got to visualise how life was like for maori during the Pa wars and Te Rauparaha invasion.
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Melanie White
Ranking: 10/10
I'm a 20 year old college student from the states. I studied abroad this summer in New Zealand and Australia for 3 weeks. This tour was one of the highlights of my entire trip. I didn't feel like I was on a tour the whole day, I felt like I was making friends. The Maori were so welcoming, and hospitable. If you do go to Kaikoura, I would highly recommend signing up for the tour. It's a great way to learn about New Zealand culture and history!
Maori Tours Kaikoura responds:
Thanks Melanie - we really appreciate you taking the time to review your time with us. Over the years we've hosted many students studying in NZ and some of them have returned later to spend more time in our great country. If you follow this trend don't forget to drop us a line so we can catch up if you come to Kaikoura.
Vanessa Hollow
Ranking: 10/10
A GENUINE NEW ZEALAND EXPERIENCE. Our tour with Maori Tours Kaikoura was one of the most amazing journeys we have ever had the pleasure of being a part of. From the moment we were met, we were made to feel like we were genuinely welcome by Maurice and his family. It was a privilege to be informed about the history, culture and people of this most beautiful country. A truly wonderful experience that we will keep with us forever. A perfect balance of everything anyone could ask of in a tour. Fantastic and memorable.
Maori Tours Kaikoura responds:
We love sharing the culture Vanessa and never tire if meeting new people. Thanks for sharing your experience with others and all the best to you and Mathew.
Congratulations Maori Tours Kaikoura
Sarah Stenhouse
Ranking: 10/10
A great morning, fun for our six year old daughter and enjoyed by us all, especially enjoyed the singing and the forest walk.
cedandsal
Ranking: 10/10
Pascal's review on 3.4.11 missed the point - this tour gave us an insight into the lives of Maoris today as well as in 1840. The tour and the visit to his home were highlights of our 2 month trip.Things that Maurice told us about the ancient forest were reiterated later by Ulva on her guided walk of Ulva Island.