Tākiri Tū Te Kōrero Ki Te Ao: Cultural Tourism Symposium

Māori Cultural Tourism is the focus of a two-day symposium at Tūrangawaewae Marae aimed at enhancing offerings in the Tainui Waka region.

Māori have been involved from the very outset of tourism development in Aotearoa, hosting visitors to geothermal attractions in the Central North Island. Today Māori tourism adds a rich dimension to New Zealand's visitor experience and helps set our country apart from the rest of the world. There is however a need to develop more experiences that will attract and anchor visitation in the Waikato and the broader Tainui Waka region.

“80% of international visitors transit through Auckland airport so the Tainui Waka region, is well positioned to provide the first impression, and final exclamation mark, for visitors to Aotearoa. Tainui Waka Tourism Inc is committed to working with regional and national stakeholders to contribute to our economy, to provide compelling visitor experiences and to build strong commercial and cultural leadership in the sector," says Lee Ann Muntz, Chair of TWTI.

Symposium speakers include the Chair of TGH (Tainui Group Holdings) Hinerangi Raumati - Tu’ua, and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu CEO Arihia Bennett. The symposium provides an opportunity for our regional stakeholders to listen to leading voices representing whānau, hapū and iwi cultural tourism interests. It also provides a platform to profile (and experience) local operator offerings including Rangiriri Paa, Te Puna Wai Tours and River Riders.

Growing opportunities for whānau to manaaki (host) visitors through sustainable tourism experiences provides a platform for enhancing social, cultural, environmental and educational well-being. TGH (the commercial arm of Waikato-Tainui) visitor assets include Novotel and IBIS hotels and the 5 Star Pullman Te Arikinui hotel under construction at Auckland Airport; while Ngāi Tahu, one of the largest tourism operators in the country, has extensive visitor attractions including the recently opened All Blacks Experience in Auckland and The Dark Sky Project experience in Tekapo.

Attendance at the symposium on Mon 24th July and at the cultural tourism experiences on Tue 25th July is free. Spaces are however limited and REGISTRATION is essential. For more information and registration details please visit the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TainuiWakaTourism