New Zealand has a long history of active volcanoes, hot springs, hot mud pools and geysers. The traditional Maori experience of the Whakarewarewa Thermal Village at Rotarua, on New Zealands north island, allowed us to get up close to the hot springs, and mud pools and to view the Pōhutu geyser from a short distance. The current guides are descendants of the original Maori guides, who formed the tourism industry in this area. The Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao people live in the village and were friendly and welcoming and they allowed us to visit their valley, and appreciate a Marae, World War 11 memorial arch, their sacred burial grounds and historic churches
We watched the villagers cook their hangi meals in in-ground steam boxes with green vegetables taking mere seconds to cook, the heat of the steam is so intense. The meat was so tender it just melted in your mouth and corn cobs were cooked in thirty seconds.
The villagers use the geothermal resources to cook, heat their homes and bathe in the refreshing therapeutic waters
