New Zealand: A Maori Odyssey from North to South | SLICE TRAVEL

New Zealand: A Maori Odyssey from North to South | SLICE TRAVEL

New Zealand an archipelago way out in the Pacific Ocean a land of contrasts both cultural and historical a majestic and magical landscape of volcanoes fs and ancient forests it is peopled by Maes and by descendants of the original British Colonists New Zealand is over 11 11,000 mi from Europe its nearest neighbor Australia is 2,000 Mi away the country is composed of 700 Islands the two main ones being the smoking Island to the North and the Jade Island to the South Oakland on the north island is the country’s biggest

City since the 1970s New Zealand has known great industrial expansion along with considerable economic and commercial development it’s fast becoming a match for its American Australian and British Cousins Wellington the capital is the cultural and administrative Center New Zealand has a population of just 4,300,000 but although it’s one of the world’s least populated countries it’s also one of the most highly urbanized it has a young and Dynamic population mostly of European Origin New Zealand has been an independent parliamentary democracy since 1947 as a member of the Commonwealth it maintains direct links with the UK as they say here Queen Elizabeth II May Reign but she doesn’t govern New Zealand is blessed with a rich and varied Natural Life much of its flora and FAA is

Endemic to the Islands the Green Hills are home to Marino sheep who are highly prized for the quality of their wool there are 40 million of them that’s 10 for every New Zealander sheep farming has for a long time been the country’s leading source of wealth but recently it has dropped by

40% cows and all they produce are more profitable Now New Zealand is also famous for its sailing the country hit the headlines in both 1995 and 2000 with its victories in the Americas cup but it also has rugby a British sport that best identifies New Zealand Everybody Plays it here boys and girls whites and Maes it’s more than a sport it’s

Responsible for the success successful integration of those two communities the national team the All Blacks is a symbol of solidarity and fighting spirit it’s the pride of the whole Nation at the start of every match the team treat the adversaries to the hacker a traditional Mai Warriors chant and dance that’s taught in the schools from a very young age and that’s also found on other islands of the Pacific the hacker is an expression of joy of anger and of

Rebellion the Maui came from Polynesia in the year 950 and stepped onto the shores of a land devoid of any human presence they would permanently settle here in several waves New Zealand was in fact the last territory in the world to be populated their famous traditional tattoos called

Moco are part of their cultural identity their war paint you see less and less of them these days although the young Rebels still wear them as a badge of protest against the government or to keep alive the memory of their Ancestors These tattoos were once a mark of social rank the more tattooed you were the higher you were in the Hierarchy some women wom sported them too at least the more noble of Them the Maui left Asia aboard the great Fleet of the seven canoes to land on the northernmost point of New Zealand which they named aoto land of the long white cloud these Vikings of the East are recognized as some of the greatest Navigators ever but also as ferocious Warriors who fought for their Gods the twin canoes they sailed in are the forerunners of our catamarans their Traditions survive here as on cook Island considered to be the Cradle of their Culture also given me a plan of how to build it the very first European sea fa to discover New Zealand was a Dutchman Abel Tasman who without even having set foot ashore baptized it after the place where he was born Zeeland The mai would remain the sole inhabitants until 1769 when James Cook the British Explorer landed on the island and claimed it for Britain but in that era of great conquests the British weren’t the only ones interested in this new land so to impose once and for all their

Sovereignty in 1840 they signed with the chiefs of the Mai Clan the Treaty of whitei which is thought of as the birth certificate of New Zealand by 1838 the French too had gained a footh hole on the south island and were hoping to colonize the country by buying land from the maues two years later a representative of the French State landed here to set up an outpost but the British had already just 5 days previously proclaimed their

Author authority over New Zealand the French still founded a community though although they would later sell it off New Zealand lies right at the heart of the Ring of Fire where the Earth’s crust is at its thinnest it’s at the junction of the Pacific and the Indo Australian tectonic plates the former is

Sliding under the latter at a rate of 6 cm a year the north island is a land of volcanoes and has some of the most spectacular geothermal activities in the world the most surprising example of the Region’s volcanic power is at wangu the taraa volcano erupted in 1886 and entirely destroyed the landscape

Around it creating this new Valley with its hot water lake the biggest in the World today this is the region with the highest proportion of mar is living in it they live in little Villages that are lost in the haze of sulfurous smoke their houses bear traces of the way of life of their ancestors with here and there statues dedicated to their

Gods living conditions for the Mau remain difficult but for some years now progress has been made these days new schools along with TV and radio stations have helped make Mai the country’s second language and more and more mixed marriages have led to even greater integration little by little more Mai

Students are getting into University thanks to new laws in their favor they now hold key posts in all fields in Mai culture energy comes from the soil that’s why they choose to live in close communion with these Luna volcanic landscapes At Rotorua large gaping holes signify the presence of intense geothermal activity that the new zealanders have used to make these natural swimming pools the water is 40° C it’s also used for heating and for Cooking the warm water is also very handy for breeding shrimps that are normally found in warmer latitudes the geothermic electricity produced here is the second most important Source in the country and is Central to the Region’s economy not far away are the impressive hookah Falls their rate of flow is equal

To two Olympic siiz pools a second their crystal clear waters tumble into the country’s biggest lake lake toppo lake toppo was born of one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in history around 130 ad it lies today at the bottom of a gigantic Crater because New Zealand is isolated from the rest of the world 80% of its animal and plant species are only found here these luxuriant forests are thousands of years old and the humidity of their Gorges is per perfect for ferns another national Symbol but without a doubt the greatest Treasure of the forests is the cowry a gigantic 2,000 year old tree that can grow to 80 ft tall with a circumference of almost 50 ft the mai call it tan mahuta the god of the forest over the last 15 50 years the arrival of man

Deforestation has been in full swing everything’s built of wood houses Villages Bridges the gum made from the trees resin was exported to Europe to make a high quality Varnish so much of it was exported that the tree was facing extinction in 19 19 52 though public opinion was mobilized to save it but 95% of the cow had still been decimated by the Colonists kri strongman shows us places where whole Forest to thrive they’re preserved in the swamp land now Ker’s an artist and sculptor he still works with the cowy wood but in a new way he pulls out of the Marsh’s entire 50,000 year old trunks it’s a moving

Experience this one was uh very violent when it uh come down uh was they were dying too it was very very painful um very painful and they all died together they all come down and not one survived what had it Happened fortunately to St this massive loss of biodiversity the whole country got involved these days 30% of its territory is protected and classified as Parks or reserves just look at the Staggering beauty of these Landscapes After the North Island and its Rich history the South Island a place of Untamed nature wild and mysterious overflowing with riches all along its West Coast the high snowy Summits bring to mind areas of Europe that’s why they call this the spine of the island the Southern Alps they’re younger than our Western

Alps though and stretch for 450 km Mount Cook is the highest of them at 3,754 M it rains over a succession of glaciers and in some cases reach down to the forest’s Edge the sea sculpts and shapes the coasts of the south Island in the pancake rocks area on the Tasman Sea Coast the rocks are subject to strong erosion which gives them their unusual shape To the east beyond the Alps lies kakura the Seal’s favorite place there’s an immense trench here just 3 m out to sea that’s more than 1,500 M deep and attracts an abundance of marine life for a long time hunted for its Pelt the seal is now protected species and it can lull

About as much as it Likes further south there’s another curiosity The moraki Boulders blocks of stone each weighing several tons and more than 10 ft in diameter fallen from The Cliffs along the beach for 60 million years sedimentary salts accumulated on them forming these extraordinary cannonballs but most emblematic of the South Island are its fjords and the

Famous fjordland National Park which you get to by boat across manipuri Lake the breathtaking views here are framed by a veritable wall of rocks with thousands of lakes and waterfalls it’s a protected site where the rich marine life Thrives Only a few fishermen have the right to indulge their passion here and the natural Maritime balance is Respected Wo good they check the size and weight of each fish they catch Scrupulously they do have the right though to catch Lobsters by scuba diving you can’t do that in Europe The vast beaches that welcomed the first mares to land as well as European colonists are for their descendants today a magnificent playground 60 M of beaches allow cars and other motorized Vehicles Others too have made themselves at home on these beaches like the antip podan Penguins this endemic species is one of the rarest in the world only 5 or 6 thousand of them have been Counted what’s particular about them is that they live in the coastal forests they’re protected now by the best vets and specialists in the world and are safe to spend the winter here and breed Oh New Zealand is a land of contrasts where Mai tradition meets the modern world it’s a journey to the heart of Elemental nature a nature That’s Unique like no other place on on Earth to be discovered and most of all Protected

This film brings us from the Cook Islands, the jewel of the Pacific and the point of departure for the last Maori conquest, to the northernmost point of New Zealand.

To better understand this country, with its magical, wild beauty, this film invites us to follow a path that leads from north to south, following the footsteps of the Maori and of new migrants.

Along the way, we discover breathtaking landscapes, fjords and volcanos, glaciers and primeval forests, bathed in an enchanting light and home to unique individuals.

Let the energy of New Zealand move you and ignite your passion.

Documentary: Lands Across the World – New Zealand (2013)
Direction: Éric Lamy, Serge Oliero & François Calderon
Production: DESERT PRODUCTIONS

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