Maori Creativity
Maori are increasingly utilising tourism in a bid to preserve and promote their culture and create a more prosperous future for their youth. That initiative is assisting in the preservation of the natural environment of Aotearoa. New Zealand, one third of which is covered in National Parks, is fast becoming a headline stealer following Peter Jackson's three-film adaptation of JRR Tolkien's 'The Lord of The Rings' - and Maori offer a unique way of exploring the country through its people and culture.
The Ngati Whare and Tuhoe iwi (tribes) in the central North Island offer walking tours through the Whirinaki rainforest - one of the world’s most spectacular rainforests, and home to ancient species. Local Maori guides provide tales of tribal history and explain the medicinal purposes of the plants. Meriana Taputu says their Whirinaki Escape Walk is proving popular with international visitors who want a ‘genuine’ cultural and environmental experience.
"People come because of the intimacy of the experience. It’s more than eco-tourism; it’s the connection my people have with the forest."
Whale Watch Kaikoura - on the eastern side of the South Island - is proof of the success of established Maori tourism ventures. Prior to its development in 1987, many local Ngati Kuri people were unemployed and their relationship with the town strained. Ngati Kuri elders decided to take action, so four families put their homes on the line to buy a boat to start a whale watch operation. They went to their tribal authority, the Ngai Tahu Maori Trust board, to raise funds. Whale Watch now employs around 70 people and supports many extended Maori whanau (families).
Whale Watch Kaikoura has won many awards, including a gold award from the Pacific Asia Travel Association, the British Airways Award for best eco-tourism venture and the Green Globe Achievement Award in Berlin for distinction in tourism. Its chairman Wally Stone has served on the Tourism New Zealand Board since 1999 and in 2002 was elected chairman.
The Hetet family has integrated traditional Maori arts with tourism and education in its Maori Treasures Complex in Lower Hutt, 20 minutes from Wellington. Five generations of Hetet creativity is on display at the centre, which is located in a converted house among 40 others belonging to the Hetet whanau. Erenora Puketapu-Hetet is internationally renowned as a weaver of traditional korowai (cloaks) - a tradition passed down to her by her husband's grandmother, Rangimarie Hetet. Master carver Rangi Hetet is the last surviving member of a special group of carvers known as Konae Aronui. He shares his skills in a specialist art school, Konae Aronui Wananga, at the Maori Treasures Complex. The complex bases its business on family tradition and features a Maori artisans' studio, gallery and gift store and café. Visitors to the Maori Treasure complex go on an art tour which includes a sculpture garden, traditional Maori musical instruments and weapons and the opportunity to meet Maori artists at work. Maori Treasures also assists in encouraging the growth of Maori arts in the Hutt Valley community. It has helped establish a community arts council, through a network of 11 marae throughout the region. The Maori Treasures venture includes a comprehensive online store selling artworks.
Tamaki Tours in Rotorua in the central North Island is another extremely successful Maori operation. Ten years ago, Mike Tamaki had a dream to create an in-depth Maori cultural experience for tourists, but he had no funds. He spent three months trying to convince brother Doug to sell his much-loved Harley-Davidson motorcycle to start the company. The bike was eventually sold, and Tamaki Maori Village proved so successful Doug was not only able to replace his Harley-Davidson, but Mike got one as well! Tamaki Tours now employs 130 mainly Maori people and allows tourists to see first-hand the cultural values of Maori, their arts and crafts, music and food.
Kena Rameka Alexander is director of Culture North. He and his wife Lenna are known for their knowledge of Maori history and run their business in the Waitangi National Reserve, the location of the signing of New Zealand's founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi. Culture North is a family business that employs three full-timers and 20 part-timers.
"Seven years ago I recognised there were no cultural experiences in the Bay of Islands," says Kena. "Considering that Northland is so rich in Maori history, that 50% of the population in Northland are Maori and Northland is where the Treaty was signed, we started Culture North." He and Lenna started out with the marae experience at Mangamuka, then developed guided tours at Waitangi. They then began providing guided tours for cruise ship visitors - and finally developed the Culture North Waitangi Sound and Light Show. The show is an evening production at the Treaty grounds in the Bay of Islands. It combines Maori culture, live drama, sound and lights and covers the story of Kupe, the first Maori to discover New Zealand, through to the present day. The story is told through the eyes of a grandparent speaking with a grandchild.
Whakarewarewa - The Thermal Village is a Maori tourism product that is making a name for itself on the global stage. An authentic, living Maori village, set amidst steaming vents and bubbling hot pools, the tour/village package gives visitors the opportunity to experience the customs, traditions and way of life of Maori people in a natural environment. Jarmie Piripi, the Managing Director of the village, attributes their success to the strength and unity that is essentially Maori.
Wairakei Terraces, a new visitor attraction north of Taupo, has joined the stable of "must see" cultural eco-tourism attractions. After five years of hard work Raewyn and Jim Hill of Ngati Tuwharetoa opened the venture located seven kilometres north of Taupo in the Wairakei Tourist Park.
Local Maori regard the Waiora Valley as a wahi tapu or a site of significance, says Jim. "The valley has historical and cultural importance because it was a main tribal thoroughfare particularly for war parties. The geothermal area also produced heated pools, which were used by Maori for bathing, healing and recreation."
Wairakei Terraces offer a look back in time featuring man-made cascading silica terraces in pinks, blues and whites. Carvings depicting legendary figures of Ngati Tuwharetoa provide background into the history and culture of the tribe. Other features include a Maori village, therapeutic foot bath, animal park, aviary and the recently upgraded Te Kiri o Hinekai Pool, known worldwide as the Honeymoon Pool and recognised for its healing powers.
The eruption of Mt. Tarawera in 1886 was New Zealand’s largest volcanic eruption in living memory, and today Mt Tarawera New Zealand Ltd provide a range of ways to view this historic site. They offer guided four wheel drive half day tours morning and afternoon from Rotorua. The tours travel through picturesque farming areas, past the largest man-made forest in New Zealand (Kaingaroa) to the base of Mt Tarawera Volcano, and up to the edge of the massive craters. The more adventurous experience the famous scree slide into the crater while others hike to the summit at 1111 meters. Local guides give a full commentary on Maori legend, history and volcanology and it’s also a chance to see some rare wildlife in their natural habitat. Helicopter landings and fly-drive combinations are also available.
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