Indigenous cultures meet and greet in ground-breaking Middle East visit

The recent inaugural conference hosted by the New Zealand Maori Tourism Council continues the renaissance that Maori Tourism is currently enjoying under the stewardship of this Labour-led Government. This Government recognises the importance of the Maori cultural component in promoting a national Maori tourism footprint, unique to the industry.

With further development and innovation, this can help the country meet its tourism potential.

The conference was important for the Maori tourism sector. It was a chance for Maori Regional Tourism Organisations to learn from each other and and it was also an opportunity to showcase to industry colleagues just have how far each region has come.

Maori tourism’s key objective is to offer a quality authentic product and to achieve excellence in its presentation … we are a long way down this track. Maori tourism is moving forward.

In 2001 the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2010 was released and since then we have been working hard to improve Maori capability, participation and to highlight this point of difference.

For example, the website www.indigenousnewzealand.com provides visitors with information on Maori tourism activities, including a digital copy of this newsletter, Te Mura o Te Ahi.

We are also in the process of implementing a business assessment and mentoring programme for Maori operators to improve the quality of Maori tourism businesses.

This is an important initiative that I hope will significantly improve up to 80 existing Maori tourism businesses.

It should be a platform to help some of these businesses rise to the expectations of the Interactive Traveller.

We have seen the Government working to strengthen the regional presence of Maori in tourism by supporting the development of MRTOs.

There are now 13 of these groups covering much of the country.

MRTO’s can add value to our regions by organising operators at the flax roots level, which establishes a firm basis to collaborate and work with the Regional Tourism Organisations - on the ground where it matters.

Right now there are some very successful collaborative projects under way between MRTOs and RTOs, I looking forward to seeing more MRTOs and RTOs working together for the benefit of their region and their local communities.

To continue to make the most of the benefits that tourism growth can offer our communities, it is essential that these relationships continue and that new relationships develop.

The tourism sector won’t be successful in making the most of the Maori advantage without all of your support, enthusiasm and commitment.

The renaissance of Maori tourism is on the frontier of an innovative and creative sector and I am proud to be part of it, working alongside our people.
I commend and thank the New Zealand Maori Tourism Council and the delegates for a fantastic and successful inaugural conference.