Tourism Association Comes to Kaikohe

The Tai Tokerau Tourism Board is holding a hui at the Kohewhata Marae in Kaikohe on October the 10th to elect new directors onto the Board. The powhiri is at 11:00am. The Association has a long and successful history and was formally established as an incorporated society on 31 July 1996. Kena Alexander from Culture North says, ”The Association has been involved with many great initiatives; supporting Maori tourism, promoting matariki, commissioned carvings for the BOI and Opononi I-sites, provided mentoring for start up Maori tourism ventures and been a spokesbody for Maori in tourism in te Taitokerau.”

Mike Shaw, Chairperson of the Kaikohe Economic Development Committee who has invited the Association to meet in Kaikohe says, “It’s is important to honour the board members who have carried the torch so far, but my understanding is that the purpose of bringing the meeting to Kaikohe is to revitalize the Association with new board members and a fresh vision.” This is public meeting and open to all to attend.

The mission of the Association is to foster the development of a cluster of Mäori and cultural tourism operators and associated stakeholders in Tai Tokerau for their mutual support, sustainable development, and the wider socio-economic benefit of Tai Tokerau. Although the mission is wider than Kaikohe itself, the Association acknowledges that Kaikohe has the potential to be a major centre of cultural tourism by virtue of its central locality, human capital and rich history.

‘Puhi-moana-ariki’- Kohewhata Marae which is hosting the meeting was opened in Easter this year. The beautifully carved whare nui is highly esteemed by the Maori and Pakeha community of the mid-north. “Hosting the meeting at Kohewhata will bring new energy and revival to an already great association.”

The opportunity is for the Association to be locally owned and driven Northland wide while capitalizing on relationships with outside expertise in the tourism sector. By “piggy-backing” on the Kaikohe-Okaihau Cycle Trail and other proposed and successfully established tourist attractions the objective is to lure tourists inland. Tourism could become Kaikohe’s next big export market, creating employment opportunities and improved social outcomes. The Association wants to continue to stimulate and grow the tourism potential in the Hokianga, Bay of Islands, Far North and Northland and the long term local vision is for Kaikohe to become a cultural tourism destination where overseas and domestic tourist come and stay for 2 or 3 days having an awesome and unique cultural experience that exceeds that anything else on offer. “Working together we should be able to offer tourists a package of exciting things to do and experience in the North.”

Picture: Courtesy of www.taiamaitours.co.nz

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ENDS

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