New Immersive Cultural Tour Transports Visitors back into Ancient Aotearoa

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22 October 2025

Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is launching a powerful new cultural experience that invites visitors to experience the ancient forest through the eyes of the legendary moa hunters. The two-hour guided tour, available weekends from 17 October 2025, takes place within the 3,400-hectare pest-proof sanctuary and uses all five senses to explore how early Māori navigated and thrived in the dense ngahere (forest).  

Led by iwi representative and cultural educator Bodie Tihoi Taylor, the experience draws on ancestral stories and archaeological evidence, including moa bones found near the northern boundary of the maunga (mountain). 

Taylor says the inspiration for the tour came from the story of how the very last moa was caught. The moa, a large, flightless bird once vital to Māori culture and ecosystems, became extinct around the late 14th century due to overhunting and habitat loss.  

“There are many tales that link moa back to Maungatautari. The tour delves into the facets of the time of the moa, uncovers some of the mysteries while learning some of the practical skills of the hunt,” he says. 

Taylor says the extinction of the moa marked a profound shift in Māori practices and conservation awareness.  

“There was a point of transformation for tikanga (customs and protocols) at that time, as Māori learned from the extinction of the moa and ensured that other species could thrive in the future,” he says.

“There are also some important kaitiakitanga (guardianship) messages woven in. This tour is a celebration of the legacy of the moa, but it’s also an understanding of conservation from a Māori point of view.” 

Visitors will learn traditional tracking and bush navigation techniques and gain insight into the spiritual relationship between Māori and the natural world. Along the way, visitors will also learn more about the mighty moa itself and understand the vital role of manu (birds) as navigators and messengers - guiding movement, signalling seasonal change, and connecting people to place. 

Taylor describes the experience as “teaching through culture, not at culture,” offering context for how traditions evolved from ancestral knowledge and the natural world.  

It is, above all, an invitation to experience the forest through a Te Ao Māori (Māori worldview) perspective - where land, people, and spirit are deeply interconnected.  

“When you look at warriors performing haka and see the pūkana (fierce widening of the eyes and protruding of the tongue) - you might wonder where that comes from,” says Taylor. “With the Moa Hunter experience, we explore how many of these movements are inspired by nature.”  

While the experience is deeply educational and inspirational, Taylor says it also carries an element of playfulness and whakamana (upliftment, empowerment). “There’s laughter, curiosity, and moments of surprise - especially when people try something new or connect with the forest in unexpected ways,” he says. 

Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari CEO Helen Hughes says the Moa Hunter experience offers visitors the opportunity to engage in an experience that is deeply rooted in Māori culture and the living story of Maungatautari.  

“This is about understanding the legacy of the moa, the values of kaitiakitanga (guardianship), and the enduring relationship between Māori and the natural world,” says Hughes.  

“Through this experience, visitors gain a richer appreciation of Maungatautari and the cultural knowledge that continues to shape its protection,” she says. 

Tours run Fridays to Sundays in small groups to ensure a personalised, respectful experience. Located just 45 minutes south of Hamilton and two hours from Auckland, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is ideally placed for domestic weekend travellers and international visitors seeking authentic cultural connection. 

 
Experience Details: