Experience New Zealand Maori culture in your school

Are your students interested in learning about New Zealand Maori language, culture and dance? Try learning the famous haka performed by the New Zealand All Black Rugby team, or making or learning how to use poi.

Manaia has worked with local boroughs, schools, Creative Partnerships, youth centres, universities, museums and colleges to deliver New Zealand Maori education workshops and programmes throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. We have worked with a range of children and young people including disaffected students and young offenders.

Our workshops and programmes encourage creativity, self-expression, confidence and team work and provide an opportunity to learn about diversity in a real sense by experiencing this unique Polynesian culture.

"All of our pupils were fully engaged and enthralled as they were led through a short history of the Maori people. It was a very multi-sensory experience, with all the senses activated! Wonderful costumes, jewellery and tattoos were a visual delight, a range of native musical instruments drew gasps, and the high point was learning the haka! The sight of all the pupils, all staff, joining in the All Blacks warm up routine will live long in my memory!

Most of all, our pupils learnt about another culture very different from their own and it was very revealing at the question and answer session at the end, when one pupil asked;
“Why do you men wear grass skirts?"
Back came the swift response-
"For the same reason that you wear trousers? – Its tradition!

It was a brilliant way to end the term!"

Maria Penicud
Learning Director, Beechwood School, Slough