Willowbank is home to Ko Tāne Māori Cultural Performance and Hangi dinner.

Ko Tāne is an interactive Māori cultural experience that gives visitors a look into our country’s history from the past to the present day in a fun and informative way.

Your experience at Ko Tāne will include your official welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand with a traditional Māori powhiri or welcome that takes in the wero or warrior challenge and the hongi pressing of noses between chief and visitor.

Your experience continues into our interactive village where you will be shown the tools and skills of the Māori hunter, their cooking techniques (your hāngī dinner will be lifted from the ground), the games they played and the traditional instruments used to communicate with the Gods.

You will then be entertained with a 45 minute kapahaka performance, including action songs, poi dances, haka, stick games and weapons displays.  During the performance you will be given the opportunity to get up on stage to learn a poi dance or the haka.

The final part of your visit will be a hangi cooked dinner which is a four-course meal in our licensed restaurant.  You will be served by the same performers that entertained you in the performance, so this is another great opportunity to ask any questions

Selections of breads and dips
Your choice of soup – kūmara or seafood chowder
Hāngī cooked main meal of chicken, lamb, pork, kumara, potatoes, carrots, stuffing plus a mixture of salads, gravies and sauces
Dessert of pavlova with NZ hokey pokey ice cream and kiwifruit

* We can prepare vegetarian and gluten-free meals provided this is requested at the time of booking.

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History

Founded by the Willis family more than four decades ago, Willowbank is still owned and operated by members of the founding family.  With more than 120 000 annual visitors, and growing, Willowbank is popular with local, national and international visitors.

New Zealand’s most comprehensive NZ themed wildlife park, the Willowbank experience tells the story of our country’s natural heritage.  Using pioneering and innovative display techniques, with an emphasis on creating a natural environment and an up-close and personal interactive experience, Willowbank showcases one of New Zealand’s best displays of native species.  Willowbank was the first to open a glass-free nocturnal house for kiwi in a natural environment, guaranteeing viewings every time.

Willowbank remains true to three main goals:

1) to be part of the conservation of species

2)  to educate customers and advocate for wildlife

3) to provide entertainment to families and visitors