Maori marae, or meeting house, at Putiki, just over the river from the city of Wanganui on the south west coast, Wellington, North Island, New Zealand, Pacific

Te Puke Marae Maori Church, Raetihi, North Island, New Zealand, Pacific

Close-up of Maori carving on Ohinemutu marae meeting house, Rotorua, South Auckland, North Island, New Zealand, Pacific

Poi dancers at Pakowhai Marae, Gisborne, North Island, New Zealand, Pacific

Poi dancers at Pakowhai Marae, Gisborne, North Island, New Zealand, Pacific

Maori women dancing at tribal gathering in front of the Wharenui meeting house at the Marae in New Zealand

Maori women dancing at tribal gathering at the Marae in New Zealand

Maori women dancing at tribal gathering in front of the Wharenui meeting house at the Marae in New Zealand

Traditional Maori wood carvings at the entrance of Marae Papatea, North coast, Eastcape, North Island, New Zealand

Carved figure on main pole at marae meeting house, Maori and Colonial Museum, Okains Bay, Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand

Maori traditional meeting house at Waitangi, carved meeting house representing all tribes, Maori Culture, Te Whare Runanga, North Island, New Zealand

Traditional Maori wood carvings at the entrance of Marae Papatea, North coast, Eastcape, North Island, New Zealand

Carved figure on main pole at marae meeting house, Maori and Colonial Museum, Okains Bay, Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand

Maori Carving at Rotowhio Marae Meeting House Entrance, Te Puia, Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

Girl with facepainting (like a Maori Moko - Tatoo), wooden Maori sculpture in Marae, celebrations on Waitangi Day, Okains Bay Museum, Bank`s Peninsula, east coast, South Island, New Zealand

Maori Meeting House Carvings, Te Takinga Marae, near Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

Maori ritual site (Marae) at a Tieke Kainga Hut. A canoe trip on the Whanganui River, North Island, New Zealand

Maori Meeting House Carving, Te Takinga Marae, near Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand00059400

Entrance gate to a Marae-meeting place of the Maoris, South Island, New Zealand