Nau mai-Haere mai (Welcome, Welcome)
To a private and personal cultural day tour through the Ahimanawa forest
Your Napier-Ahimanawa culture tour destination
Depart from the Napier Airport to begin your helicopter flight to the Ahimanawa forest range. A sacred mountain amongst many heralding the chiefly name Te Matai, sacred to its Māori people. Nestled proudly as a kaka bird nests on rock cliff faces to over see the river is Whare Waiokaka – The Waterbird lodge.
From above Aroha Helicopters provides the bird’s eye views of Hawke’s Bay remoteness, down to the powerful Mohaka River, to your landing destinations adjacent to the beautiful Mangatainoka stream where natural hot springs flow or a landing right beside the Mohaka river itself.
The Ahimanawa experience connects you to the whenua (earth mother) and embraces rangi (the sky father). Rich in tribal culture, connection to its kaitiaki (guardians)
Become part of the narrative when you embark and experience the tribal Hā, the breath, the taste of excitable anticipation, wellbeing and adventure.
MEET YOUR CULTURE GUIDE
MARLENE SKEET
“He mihi nui ki a koutou e ngā Manuhiri.
Ko Marlene Skeet tōku ingoa. Ko ahau tō Kaiarahi mo te haerenga nei.
Nau mai haere mai ki tēnei awhiawhi o te wao, o te awa, ā, o Te Matau a Māui.”
Greetings visitors.
My name is Marlene Skeet. I am your guide for this day journey.
Welcome to the embrace of the forest, the river and Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.
As tangata whenua, people of the land, presenting hospitality and guidance is part of being Māori.
My guiding career spans 30 years. The essence of manaakitanga (hosting) people is as a carved treasured inheritance of ancestral teachings.
I invite you to join me on this day-flight journey.
PŌHATU WAITĪ
RIVER STONE STAR TOUR DAY
Your cultural experience will include:
10:00am to 3:00pm (Local Napier flight tour)
10:00am to 4:00pm (Remote Ahimanawa flight tour)
Mihi timatanga – Māori welcome, greeting and introductions
Easy terrain short guided walk through Hawke’s Bay only remaining virgin forest
Forest commentary - Taiao, environment where traditional inherent elements of gathering wellbeing, knowledge, biodiversity and guardianship are still gathered, maintained and preserved by our people
River visit – Stone-neck-laced stories of our Māori explorers
Kono food basket - Hawkes Bay produce and Māori food presentations, traditional cooking methods
Mihi whakamutunga – Closing of the day and a return flight back to Napier
DAY TOUR - Fly in Fly Out
Arrive at Napier Airport at 10:00am, and we’ll fly you back for 3:00pm
CULTURAL TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
EXPERIENCE MAORI CULTURE BY RAFT, DAY WALK OR FLY REMOTE.
GETTING TO YOUR CULTURAL TOUR EXCURSION
We can provide pick up and return transfers to and from Napier Airport.
Have a question? Let us know
We offer a range of other excursions, check them out below
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Accessible by helicopter, our private hunting blocks are alive with Sika and Red Deer. Fly into one of our four private hunting blocks hidden between the mighty Mohaka and Ripia Rivers.
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Helicopter in for a day of unrivalled fishing, the pristine waters of the mighty Mohaka River provide a trout fishing utopia; visitors tell us it's an almost spiritual experience.