The Moa Hunter

Step into the heart of the forest and awaken your senses with The Moa Hunter – Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari’s newest interactive cultural experience. Guided by an expert mana whenua guide, this immersive tour invites visitors to walk in the footsteps of ancient Māori warriors, navigating the ngahere (native forest) through the lens of traditional bush lore and ancestral wisdom.

The Moa Hunters were a formidable people – resilient, intuitive, and deeply attuned to the rhythms of the natural world. On this journey, you’ll discover how Māori relied on the elemental forces of water, fire, and wind to survive and thrive in the forest. Learn how wai (water) was sourced, stored, and used for healing and sustenance; how ahi (fire) was harnessed not only for warmth and cooking, but also for crafting tools and signaling across the canopy; and how hau (wind) carried messages, guided movement, and shaped seasonal patterns.

As you move through the forest, you’ll come to learn more about the mighty Moa itself and understand the vital role of manu (birds) as navigators and messengers. Their calls, flight paths, and behaviours offered clues to food sources, weather changes, and spiritual presence. You’ll also explore how natural materials – from supple harakeke to sturdy rākau – were used to craft hunting tools, build shelter, and protect iwi from the elements.

This is more than a tour. It’s a sensory journey of connection, discovery, and reverence. Feel the textures of the forest floor, taste native herbs, listen to ancient stories, and breathe in the lifeforce of Maungatautari. Whether you’re drawn by curiosity, culture, or conservation, The Moa Hunter offers a special opportunity to experience the forest through a Te Ao Māori perspective – with humility, ingenuity, and deep respect.

Mauriora – may the lifeforce be with you.

By booking on this tour your contribution helps Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari continue to protect the rare and endangered species that live wild on Maungatautari. A complimentary Sanctuary Explorer Day Pass is included.

Please check in at least 10 minutes prior to your tour at Manu Tīoriori visitor centre.

• Here you will pick up your Sanctuary Explorer Pass and visitor guide map and receive instructions as to where to meet your guide.
• This is a 2-hour guided tour into Te Tūī ā Taane southern enclosure.

*This tour includes a complimentary Sanctuary Explorer Day Pass, for use during daylight hours on the day of its issue.

**Standard booking terms and conditions apply.