THE LITTLE TRIBE THAT COULD

Ngati Makino is the name of a small tribe whose ancestral land, borders the white sand beach 40 kms along the coast from. They have lived there as a small group of families for generations.

To celebrate and memorialise their ‘Tipuna’ (forebears), and to continue to provide a meeting place for the ‘tangata whenua’ ( the current generation, the people of the land) the little tribe has completely renovated the old wharenui ( meeting house) and built a new wharekai ( eating house/hospitality hall).

With resources somewhat depleted by this huge undertaking by the small tribe, and with some more smaller projects to complete, they have turned to what is inherent in their culture for solutions.

Ngati Makino, as with all Maori people, are a welcoming, giving, and very hospitable tribe.

They love to share their way of life and some of their history with visitors and they have wished to extend an exclusive welcome to the special cruise visitors, who like their ancestors, came to these shore by sea.

Cruise guests, have the opportunity to visit the seaside marae, be welcomed by the leader into the spiritual meeting house, and maybe even lend a helping hand to progress some of the smaller projects for the benefit of future generations.

Planting some native grasses on the dunes on the foreshore to forestall erosion, or donating and planting a manuka tree seeding for the future production of manuka honey for the tribe.

A visit to their old hill terraced fortification might enable a little clearing of the site to expose the ancestral burial ground, and potato storage pits.

A gourmet picnic lunch with matching NZ wine, craft beer, kiwifruit juice or chilled pure water, can be savoured on a blanket on the white sand beach in front of the meeting house, or in a grassy glade by the stream which runs by the side of the marae, or in the new architecturally designed eating house.

The trip back to the ship will be concluded by a drive along Mt Maunganui’s Marine Parade, around the base of Mauo ( The Mount ) and along Pilot Bay to arrive at the pier.

Inclusions

  • all activities and venues
  • Gourmet picnic lunch - portion of freshly smoked fish (terakihi)
    Portion of hangi-style cooked pork
    1 x club sandwich filled with leaf greens, chicken, egg, avocado
    1 x club sandwich filled with summer green leaf, cream cheese, smoked salmon,
    Portions NZ cheeses
  • Pottle of fresh sliced green and gold kiwifruit drizzled with liquid manuka honey
  • Choice of chilled 187 ml small bottle of NZ Sauvignon Blanc, or NZ Chardonnay, or NZ
    Merlot, chilled bottle NZ craft beer, or chilled bottle Kiwifruit juice, or chilled bottle
    Pure NZ water
  • Additional beverages at $5 per bottle/glass.
Itinerary and Time
-30 min
Join Host Driver/Guide at coach on pier
Board coach and prepare for travel
0 Depart pier
50 min Travel via Te Puke, backcountry roads, past orchards and dairy farms to the beachside marae of the Ngati Makino tribe
25 min Arrive at meeting house for formal welcome from tribal leader
70 min Split into smaller groups for activities
  • beach combing/restoration
  • longline fishing expo
  • Manuka seedling planting
  • Old fortification visit and insights
40 min Enjoy gourmet picnic lunch on the beach, by the stream, in the eating house
70 min Groups swap around to complete rotation of activities
45 min Depart beachside marae at return to ship via Marine Parade, Pilot Bay


5 hrs
Total duration
Ngati Makino is the name of a small tribe whose ancestral land, borders the white sand beach 40 kms along the coast from. They have lived there as a small group of families for generations.
THE LITTLE TRIBE THAT COULD
Kiwifruit Country Tours