Auckland’s Māori tourism operators carve out spot on NZ’s cultural tourism map

It’s been a big year for the Auckland Māori tourism operators on show at TRENZ 2016 this week – there’s been international awards, visits from famous talk show hosts, new products launched and partnerships formed.

TRENZ - New Zealand’s biggest annual international tourism event - is taking place in Rotorua 10-13 May, with a vast array of Auckland’s accommodation providers, activities, experiences on show including an exciting range of Auckland’s Māori tourism products.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) Head of Tourism Jason Hill says, “It’s been fantastic to see Auckland’s Māori tourism offering gaining momentum and the national and international recognition these operators are getting for the great work they are doing.

“Over the past few years Auckland’s Māori tourism operators have really started to successfully carve out their own unique cultural offering and put the region on the map as another place to experience Māori culture.

“ATEED, on behalf of Auckland Council, has been working closely with Auckland’s Māori tourism operators to further develop Auckland’s cultural experiences. We have worked with key stakeholders to identify opportunities like Te Haerenga and worked with Tāmaki Makaurau mana whenua to develop the inaugural Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival held over Auckland Anniversary weekend this year.

“These new attractions provide a great opportunity for Aucklanders and visitors to learn more about the Māori heritage and contemporary culture that Tāmaki Makaurau offers.”

Te Haerenga is exhibiting for the first time at TRENZ after successfully launching its first commercial season of guided walks on Rangitoto and Motutapu.

The Department of Conservation has listed Te Haerenga as one of four Manaaki Trails, which are ‘hosted journeys on New Zealand’s most special tracks’, and uses experienced local Ngāi Tai guides to take visitors on a journey of discovery of the islands’ flora and fauna and history.

The introduction of Te Haerenga has also seen a new collaboration with another Auckland Māori tourism operatorWaka Quest Tours, which offers transport to the islands by the traditional Maori canoe or waka.

Waka Quest Tours Director John Panoho says, “It’s been great working with Ngāi Tai throughout the summer and fantastic to see the introduction of another Māori tourism product to Auckland.

“With Waka Quest we want to offer an experience which is much more than a sail boat ride on the harbour. Those who journey with us are immersed in a full cultural tourism experience where they learn about the origins of Māori, our customs, artistry and oral traditions and stories from our sailing past, and this focus on our culture carries through to the experience with Te Haerenga.”

Another new attraction is a special guided tour at sunrise with Tāmaki Hīkoi where visitors take part in a traditional Māori welcome at Orakei Marae. While American megastar Oprah Winfrey didn’t have time to catch the sunrise she did receive a special Māori welcome at Orakei Marae on her first visit to New Zealand in December which attracted international media attention.

Te Oka Toia and his wife Jamie have taken ownership of Auckland Ghost Tours showcasing the ‘darker’ side of Auckland and will also be promoting their tours at TRENZ.

TIME Unlimited recently won a prestigious National Geographic World Legacy Award in the “Sense of Place” category. They were selected from 150 entries and were the only winner from Australasia.

While it is not the first time Tāmaki Paenga Hira, The Auckland War Memorial Museum, and Potiki Adventureshave been at TRENZ, the event presents an unprecedented opportunity for these organisations to engage with more than 300 international travel and tourism buyers.

ENDS

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