South Seas: Rotorua (3.27.25)

Rotorua is one of the show places of New Zealand, where the Maoris dance, sing, and demonstrate their crafts at several cultural centers.  It is also an area full of geysers, hot pots, and other volcanic activity.  Dave and I spent several hours today at Te Puia, a well-planned and executed center for Maori culture.

Te Puia includes an art training school where young New Zealanders are trained to create traditional crafts, such as wood carving, bone carving, textile weaving, and jewelry making.  Their work is then sold at the Te Puia gift shop.  There were many elegant pieces at the shop that I would have bought if I had thousands of dollars and space in my home!