I wanted my mother to experience the Maori culture show and do the kiwi encounter as I had already done. I thought this really gives a great introduction and history of this country. We attended a great culture performance of dancing and singing by the Maori people.
When Maori people greet friends/allies and peaceful foreigners from the Four Winds (people coming from all directions of the world), they press noses and foreheads together. The pressing of the foreheads is to share thoughts and since the mouths are so close, it is the sharing of the breath of life. Men/men, women/men and women/women all do this as a form of greeting one another.
We then had a fabulous dinner and wine by the fireplace. I got to got outside and feed tame deer. My mother had to drag me back in bc I kept feeding handful after handful to these little guys and it was time for our Kiwi Encounter. This encounter also included other native birds.
The Alpine Parrot--would land on our guides shoulder as he was giving his speach about the birds. Alpine Parrots can eat the rubber on your car windows, get into the car, tear up the upholstry! They are protected now and cannot be hunted. The guide would feed this bird spoonfuls of honey, they like very sweet, high in fat foods. We also got to see gorgeous white swans, several Kiwi birds and possums.
Ferrets--are a huge nusiance to NZ, they feed on Kiwi eggs and will kill several birds as well, not just to eat, but for the sport. Ferrets can kill up to 20 birds a night and not eat a single one. It is illegal to own or breed ferrets, you cannot buy these at the pet stores and they are trying to erradicate ferrets and possums.
Possums--however, these possums are quite a bit larger than our north american version. They can be grey or dark brown with a large bushy tail. They do not have a tail like a rat.
Stoats-- are similar to ferrets and are also considered a nusiance to the birds and kiwi eggs.
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