Kia Ora...and welcome to — the Polynesian Cultural Center's islands of Aotearoa, or the "Land of the Long White Cloud" as the New Zealand Maori call their homeland of the past 1,000 years. Aotearoa forms the southwestern apex of the Polynesian Triangle and is the only part of Polynesia to experience four seasons. Consequently, you'll notice the Maori — whose name means the "true people" — created significantly different housing and lifestyles than their Polynesian cousins in the tropical islands. Oh, and yes, the appropriate response to a Maori greeting, which means "good health," is also Kia Ora.
Aotearoa also features a historic 40-man waka taua (war canoe), a traditional watch tower, and a carver's hut with a gift shop and snack stand.
The Polynesian Cultural Center shares an introduction to an ancient and fascinating people. Learn more about the geography, history, and culture of Aotearoa by following the links above.
