Feast for the Eyes

“If it’s culture you’re after, make a beeline for the North Island,” writes the Examiner’s Molly McCahan, suggesting in particular, a trip to Rotorua, “considered the centre of Maori culture.” “Today around 35 per cent of the population here is Maori; their traditional settlements abound. Attending a Maori performance and indulging in a hangi, the traditional Maori feast, is a highlight of any Rotorua visit. The local ‘chefs’ dig a pit in the ground, place heated rocks inside, set the food on top (these days, it’s often wrapped in foil), and then cover the pile and slowly roast the whole concoction for hours. The result is deliciously tender meat and smoky kumara (sweet potatoes), a local staple.”