Manaakitanga Is the Maori Value of Care and Hospitality – Here’s How To Experience It in New Zealand

A core value in Māori culture, manaakitanga sums up how New Zealanders do hospitality on home turf. It’s a way of welcoming visitors with the utmost kindness, generosity and respect – connecting on a human level to create lasting memories.This idea encompasses what spending time in New Zealand feels like – the experience is more than just a holiday, it’s one of meaningful fulfilment that stays with you after you head home.

From the Winterless North to the sweeping vistas of Otago, you’ll find countless examples of manaakitanga throughout Aotearoa that will leave you feeling genuinely embraced. Consider this a starting point.

Bay of Islands

The Bay of Islands is a subtropical region near the top of the North Island that’s known for its sublime natural beauty and cultural heart. To learn about New Zealand’s history, a visit to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds is moving and enlightening. Book the hāngi and concert evening experience and you’ll be shown the definition of hospitality.

A trip to the top of New Zealand is incomplete without a zip around on the water – and Bay of Islands Adventures will happily add a little adrenaline. Founded by Guy and Debbie Marshall in 2020, the business offers jet boat tours for those in search of a thrill (the red “Xtreme” on the side of the boat is a tip-off). There are also more serene glass-bottomed boat tours that take you to the famous natural landmark the Hole in the Rock.

To find out who makes the best local food, wander around the Kerikeri and Paihia Farmers Markets. You can taste artisanal food products by independent Northland makers such as Mahoe Cheese (whose farm store you can also visit), Ikarus Coffee made with New Zealand-grown beans, and Donnali Grove where owners Chris and Linda Smith cultivate their olive trees with an unmatched passion for high-quality extra-virgin olive oil.

For a stay that encompasses community and comfort, Haka House in charming Paihia has the best of all worlds. You can book a shared or private room at this backpacker’s hostel, but no matter where you lay your head, you’ll be treated to ocean views and the chance to make new friends.

Bay of Plenty

With its deep cultural roots, golden sands and geothermal wonders, the Bay of Plenty will have you feeling the warmth no matter the season. Catching your own kaimoana (seafood) is a highlight of coastal life, and Deon Muir of Muirs Tours will show you how to do it while respecting the ocean. Muir is a former Maori All-Blacks rugby captain who is passionate about sharing how to live harmoniously with the ocean. Based in the town of Maketū, Muir’s guided fishing and cooking experiences take you from hauling in your own catch to preparing a feast of smoked fish, grilled mussels, sashimi, chowder and parāoa parai (Māori fry bread). It doesn’t feel like just a fishing tour at all – but more like you’re just hanging out with locals as they go about their usual daily life.

For a trip back in time, book a guided tour at Whakarewarewa Thermal Village in Rotorua. You’ll be a guest at this living Māori village where residents use the area’s famous natural geothermal resources to cook, bathe and heat their home – same as they’ve done for hundreds of years. Guided by direct descendants of the Te Arawa people who have lived in the area for generations, you’ll experience true manaakitanga as you explore the marae (communal meeting ground), sacred burial grounds and more.

About 10 kilometres outside of Rotorua, you can find some of New Zealand’s cutest (and fluffiest) residents at the National Kiwi Hatchery in Ngongotahā. Aotearoa’s famously shy national bird has been nurtured here for 30 years by the team of passionate Kiwi experts, and their stories are seriously heartwarming. If you book a visit during hatching season between September and March, you can watch a kiwi chick having its daily health check and might also have the opportunity for a keeper-managed photo with one.

Christchurch

Full of warm welcomes and set amid wild landscapes, roam the revitalised South Island city as well as its surroundings. Take a different perspective with Waka on Avon where, rather than watching the Avon River drift past, you’ll get out on the water with a group in a traditional canoe. Test your multitasking and teamwork skills as you paddle while listening to stories that have shaped the city, learning its history through conversation and community.

If you prefer exploring on two feet, let Riwai Grace show you around with Āmiki Tours. He loves a yarn, so he and his wife Cate Grace built their walking tour business to share the stories hidden in plain sight around central Christchurch. Riwai apparently had a habit of helping lost visitors find their way in his 20-plus years in the fire and emergency services, so becoming a professional host seems fitting.

For lunch with a view, head to Tussock Hill, recently awarded one Star in the 2026 Michelin Guide. The Targett family took over the organic vineyard in 2017 and everyone has a part to play, from tending the vines to running the cellar door and accommodation. Settle in overlooking the vines and Christchurch cityscape for seasonal sharing plates made with local Canterbury produce, paired with the family’s own organic wines.

Take the scenic drive over the hills to Akaroa and you’ll find Pōhatu Penguins, founded by the local Helps family who have been conservationists for over 30 years. They passionately protect the area’s kororā (white-flippered penguin), and if you book an overnight farmstay in season you can join an evening penguin tour, swim at the secluded beach and visit the clifftops of the Akaroa Heads Lighthouse Reserve.

Otago

Dramatic landscapes are the backdrop for Otago’s hearty hospitality and local characters. For a different kind of hideaway, retreat into the Central Otago landscape at Haurapa Pure Pod. The glass-walled cabin sits above the countryside an hour outside Queenstown with views of the Pisa Range. Seclusion doesn’t mean skimping on hospitality; you can order a hamper packed with locally sourced cheeses, meats and bread, and crucially in winter there’s also plenty of heating.

For a high-country stay that even city slickers will adore, take some time out at luxurious Lake Hāwea Station. In any of the four residences you’ll be surrounded by lake and mountain views, with cosy touches including super king beds, pot belly stoves and cookies made with walnuts grown on the property. The historic Packhorse Cottage tells its own human story, with notes from generations of musterers still etched into the bedroom walls.

Further south to the coast near Dunedin, a Māori Pā experience with Karitāne Māori Tours will have you guided across the Huriawa Peninsula, a spectacular protected reserve. Hear stories passed down through generations and learn about the cultural and spiritual significance of the landscape, being welcomed into its multitudes by the people who know it best.

Sometimes the best way to get to know a city is to eat what its people are making. Book a Craft’d walking food tour in Dunedin and you’ll meet some of the city’s finest small-batch food makers – from award-winning ethical chocolate and locally made pies to one of the country’s oldest fish and chip shops – while getting acquainted with its historic centre and developing waterfront.

This article was produced by Broadsheet in partnership with 100% Pure New Zealand. Whether you’re seeking moments of awe, adventure or quiet connection, New Zealand offers countless ways to experience the country on your own terms. Start planning the journey that feels right for you – find your 100%.