I really enjoyed my evening in the Maori village. The Mitai family is very welcoming and makes you feel comfortable right from the start. It was very interesting to hear about their culture and heritage and see how villages looked like in the earlier days. Their fairy spring looked gorgeous and the guided bush walk after dinner was a good way to see the numerous glowworms in that area. I also enjoyed the cultural performance including, dances, music, weaponry and showing off one of their war canoes. The dinner itself was a highlight. After looking at the "Hangi" cooking method and seeing what would be our food later, we savoured a nice meal at small sized tables.
I was afraid the evening would be too touristy, but it wasn't. Being seated in different tents you. Didn't even realize how many people were there that evening.
All in all a very good experience and definitely worth it.