< The Te Puia Maori Arts & Crafts Institute in the environs of Rotorua has been created with the intention of preserving and promoting the Maori traditions, arts, crafts and lifestyles which are unique to New Zealand’s indigenous inhabitants. 

A popular tourist venue, visitors to the institute will require Rotorua holiday accommodation such as the Kingsgate Hotel Rotorua, located in the vicinity, which provides a range of amenities that ensures no guest leaves disappointed.

Te Puia has been in existence for more than 45 years, always welcoming its visitors, providing a window into traditional Maori culture and a first-hand glimpse into the varied exquisite Maori crafts and arts. Te Puia is also home to the renowned weaving and carving schools and the famed Pohutu geyser.

To the Maori, relationships between people are paramount, and this is reflected in the manner in which the staff of the institute cordially welcomes and befriends the visitor. The Maori proudly narrate the legends and stories handed down over the generations, which are an integral part of their culture. 

As the guardian and repository of Maori traditions and culture, the staff of Te Puia do their utmost to preserve and rejuvenate the customary indigenous art forms. Home to the principal schools of weaving and carving, visitors may watch the master craftsmen and artists at work as they instruct their eager students in the intricacies of the trade. 

In the past 40 years Te Puia has performed the carving of more than 30 meeting houses, known as wharenui, in various parts of New Zealand, and crafted innumerable mementos for individuals of note visiting the nation. Te Puia conducts various cultural programmes throughout the world, showcasing its artistic traditions.