mataatua: the house that came home

The whole experience of a tour at The House that Came Home was terrific, and far exceeded our expectations. The Maori greetings by the staff, the workmanship of the house, the experience of being in the house were all superb, but what was really quite something was the sound and light show in the house. No spoilers! So just make sure you go and see! And don't forget to go and look at the huge ocean going canoe near by.

This is a great way to hear about and experience some Maori culture. Our guide was friendly and informative and the house is well worth the visit. The light show and story inside is very good. I loved the personal welcome and ritual we followed as we approached and entered the house. Unlike Rotorura there a no crowds so this becomes a more personal and intimate experience. A must do if you are in Whakatane.

I took my parents here & we really enjoyed the experience. I have taken guests previously to more commercial places, so it was refreshing to go to this Marae. The whole experience felt genuine and pitched at the right level for guests to gain some interesting history of the place, & learn about traditional Maori culture. The sound & light show was also very cleverly created. Most enjoyable & will definitely be recommending this place to others.

I've visited Whakatane several times yet never fully understood the areas history. This was the complete experience! As well as learning about the local history, this was a great introduction to Maori culture for my Australian girlfriend, which to date is the highlight of her trip here to NZ.Very friendly, knowledgeable and authentic presenters and the state of the art light show is a real bonus!

It is worth doing the 1-2 hour presentation. This includes a talk about he early history of Maoris and we were given a traditional Maori welcome before entering the house which has travelled on show in Australia and UK before coming back and being reinstated in Whakatane. It has also been fitted with a modern facility to project a lights show which was excellent. Our gracious Maori hosts then gave us tea and snacks at he end of the informative tour. We were on our own and were able to ask lots of questions.

What a great experience for Kiwis and tourists alike! Our guides were well-informed, passionate about their culture and above all else, very welcoming. I would recommend this excursion to everyone who is interested in learning more about Maori culture as it specifically pertains to the rituals and customs of the marae (meeting house), as well as a tantalising look at how the Maori live in the present with their ancestors always present.

I have been three times now and think it is a wonderful experience. It's a wonderful way to showcase the history of Whakatane. The whole Maori experience is great for us all especially for tourists.

This wonderful house with its amazing history is a must see place in Whakatane.The staff are amazing and are there to make this cultural experience something that you will always remember.I have been many times and always get excited when I show visitors around. The detail of workmanship in the wharenui is superb and the Sound and Light show is very well doneThis wharenui is one of the very best in NZ and deserves more press than what it is getting

Hospitality, guidance and introduction to the history of the house (wharenui) excellent. The superb craving both old and new, the ambience of the house, its journey are both instructive and a fascinating insight into New Zealand attitudes of the 19th century and the emerging role of Maori today.

This is an amazing place to visit. A local person tells of the history of the house before you then go inside to view an informative DVD. The graphics are wonderful as are the carved panels

Really enjoyable experience, great guide and received welcome. Fascinating story of a well travelled house. Defiantly worth a visit, thank you to our guide : )

A very moving experience about a Maori meeting house that has finally made it home. Experience a welcome on to the Marae and a fascinating light show. Enjoy the hospitality afterwards. A very genuine cultural experience for NZers and overseas visitors.

A must do for anyone visiting this part of the Bay of Plenty. We were there with 19 boys as part of a rugby tour. Our time spent at Mataatua was fantastic. The welcome & explanation of the culture and significance of the house and its travels around the world from the local maori elders and guides was very well done. The light and sound show was entertaining and well presented.Well worth the visit and a great experience.

I went to see this show and it is one of the best experiences i have endured. the light show is AMAZING and i recommend this to anyone

The story of this "house" was amazing to us as it included our home country yet we had no previous knowledge of the house. The tour was fantastic especially as we went in the "off season" so had a private tour. We chose the tour to include the seafood tastes at the end which was a hearty meal and gave us a wonderful opportunity to ask a million questions of our host about Maori culture, New Zealand culture and anything else that came to our mind. Something that was truly surprising to us was that we were not just allowed but requested to touch the house which was great as it let us get up close to the carvings in the house.