Maori Powhiri (Welcome) Queenstown NZ

On the shores of Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown, New Zealand, we were welcomed by the local Maori with a "powhiri". It's a challenge. You're offered a feather or piece of fern and if you don't
pick it up, it means you are there for a fight. So you pick it up. :-)

The attendees were employees attending a regional, Asia/Pacific company conference. They were unaware this group was about to turn up in jet boats. Most people there were from around Asia or places other than New Zealand. They weren't aware of the correct protocol. The free Lindaur bubbly laid on had people fairly relaxed.

2008-11-09: I've uploaded more video from this event. Each is a video response to the one before it.
http://twitter.com/nza1

(Note: This video sat in a box on a video cassette for several years prior to the "invention" of YouTube. All bow down before YouTube. :-) )

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• powhiri
• maori
• Queenstown
• Lake
• Wakatipu
• NZ
• New
• Zealand

[HxMxOx]

Is that what Maori canoes look like in the 20th century? :o)

[linuxluver]

@HxMxOx Yep! :-) 

[shaveyourfingers]

Surely the person(s) who organised the event would've explained the protocol of the welcoming to the tourists before they turned up, so they can have a little idea of what to expect.

[linuxluver]

@shaveyourfingers Nope. It was meant to be a surprise. Hence the arrival by jet boat.....

[sdurgefafd]

i know the tourist were not intending any offence but i dont know why i feel so mad about them laughing

[bakaheibaka]

Stupid white people need to respect other people's culture more!

I'm so ashamed.

[bigredphenom]

bunch of immature children, quit your giggling....

[hbktigre]

Yo entendi algo de: 00:24 tu orto, tubo, 00:34 Guarda! viene tu dorima, 00:41 Puta, 00:45 loquita! 00:48 Linda tanga!

[Munteanu1993]

What's so damn funny ?

[NikzPureKiwi]

shulda put tht taiaha to ther heads, see if they laugh then

[PuffDaddyVersion]

Stop laughing. It's their culture assholes....

[MSTJPT1]

yeah most of the people are asian not all. the rest are red nek maggets that no our culture so fuk those who laugh at us.tell those cunt to get a sword an vs a Taiaha an when they are down looking up at us then we will hav the last laugh

[MSTJPT1]

those people that are laughing layed down a challeng lucky it wasnt the old days they would of been laughing with there heads on a stick no offence nek minit

[kjdjsiujekjjs]

@bakaheibaka When ancient Maori warriors stuck their tongue out, it meant after they kill you, they were gonna eat you to steal your spiritual energy. u think their Still laughing??

[BarbaErik]

You should not laugh in front of a guy with a spear