Showing posts with label Hāngī dish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hāngī dish. Show all posts

Friday, September 12, 2025

Tourism: New Zealand behind the scenes of King Kong, The Lord of the Rings, and Jurassic Park

 

On Waitangi Day, Maori people in Waitangi, New Zealand, sing and dance. A public holiday is declared in New Zealand to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.

Maori people in Waitangi, New Zealand, sing and dance. Photo credit: blog.polynesianpride.co/

 

Geographically, New Zealand is situated in the southwest region of the Pacific Ocean, in Oceania, far from the other continents. Space sceneries, brilliant caverns, orange lakes, and breathtaking fjords with sheer cliffs may all be found in the nation. The country lies 1,700 kilometers southeast of Australia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. What is the history of this wonderful nation's citizens?

 

The Maori, the native inhabitants of this enigmatic nation, have lived there for over 800 years and have managed to retain their history and distinctive traditions. They refer to the natural diversity of land as “Aotearoa.” These amazing and breathtaking natural landscapes have continued to draw in tourists from all over the world.

 

Many people throughout the world like watching movies, but many are unaware that the films "King Kong, The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, and Jurassic Park" were filmed in New Zealand, whose breathtaking scenes contributed to the films' success. Despite being one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, those fantastic movies served as a spark to encourage people to visit the untamed forests.

 

The rocky beaches, snow-capped mountains, strong geysers, kayaking, sailing, multi-day mountain climbs, ski slopes, and hydroplane rides continue to draw both domestic and international travelers.

 

While welcoming immigrants from throughout the globe, the nation takes great care of its native Maori culture. The nation has a high standard of living, a vast amount of agricultural land, and high-quality farm products despite its remote location from the larger continents.

 

Among the roughly 700 islands that make up New Zealand, the largest ones include the Sub-Antarctic Antipodes Archipelago, Bounty, Kermadec, and Stewart Island. The Australian continent is the one that is furthest from the nation's coast. The Tasman Sea separates the two nations.

 

New Zealand's most intriguing locations

 

Beautiful landscapes and a variety of ecosystems define New Zealand's beauty. Queenstown is the nation's daring capital and is a popular tourist destination for good reason. Other tourist destinations include Rotorua, Waitangi, Hokianga Harbor, the Coromandel Peninsula, Tongariro National Park, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Abel Tasman National Park, Kaikoura, Dunedin, and the Otago Peninsula.

 

The nation is also home to stunning mountains, verdant woods, and immaculate beaches. With summits like Aoraki/Mount Cook, the Southern Alps provide breathtaking vistas and chances for adventure. Additionally, it is home to rare species, including tuataras and kiwi birds. The varied environments include alpine tundra and subtropical jungles.

 

The natural beauty is enhanced by the fusion of European and Maori cultures, and the experiences are enhanced by the presence of traditional Maori architecture and art across the nation.

 

Let's explore the kitchen in New Zealand

 

The cuisine of New Zealand is a delicious fusion of British colonial past and indigenous Maori culture, further influenced by the Pacific Rim. With a rich culinary heritage and a deep appreciation for local, fresh produce, New Zealand cuisine reflects the country's history, topography, and populace.

 

The country’s food is distinctive and varied, reflecting both its natural abundance and its cosmopolitan civilization, and due to its indigenous Māori culture and British colonial past, New Zealand is renowned for its distinctive and varied food.

 

In addition to being the mainstay that characterizes New Zealand's traditional cuisine, they are also especially iconic and might be referred to as the country's national meals.


An appetizing New Zealand dish

An appetizing New Zealand dish. Photo credit: blog.sagmart.com/


Here are a few foods that stand out: Hāngī is a traditional Māori technique that uses heated stones to prepare food in an underground oven. Usually, it consists of root vegetables and meats. Green-lipped mussels, kaimoana, roasted lamb and potatoes, fish and chips, and bacon and egg pie. These meals, which combine traditional and modern influences, showcase New Zealand's diverse culinary heritage.