New Zealand Māori Tourism

Māori tourism offers you a unique insight into our world that has been shaped by our ancestors, our culture, our traditions, and our environment.

At the heart of it all is manaaki manuhiri - care and respect for all people, from all places. We share with you our stories, our people, our place.

You may arrive as a stranger, but you will leave Aotearoa New Zealand as members of our whānau (family).

Nā reira, nau mai, haere mai!

Who Is Māori Tourism?

New Zealand Māori Tourism is committed to working with the Māori tourism sector to contribute to our economy, to provide compelling visitor experiences, and to build a strong commercial and cultural leadership.

We support leaders and partnerships that generate value in the Māori and wider tourism sector. This creates opportunity and ensures the growth and quality of Māori tourism experiences.

Positioning Māori tourism in this way allows Māori to take a leadership role in how visitors experience our country.

Māori leading Aotearoa New Zealand visitor experiences - Mā te pūkenga Māori te wheako Māori i Aotearoa nei, e ārahi.

Māori Tourism Values

Ngā Mātāpono or The Values they uphold:

• Mana Tangata: They pride themselves in the integrity of a 'people first approach' respecting the prominence of each and every person (mana tangata) we connect with.
• Manaaki Manuhiri: The care and hospitality of visitors (manaaki manuhiri) is an integral part of our Māori culture. They arrive as manuhiri and leave as whānau.
• Rangatiratanga: They aspire to lead by example in all that they do, demonstrating exemplary leadership (rangatiratanga) and governance practices based on our acquired and inherited knowledge.
• Kaitiakitanga: It is their role and responsibility to ensure that the guardianship (kaitiakitanga) of the land and environment is well maintained and protected for future generations.
• Whanaungatanga: They value and nurture relationships (whanaungatanga) developed within the Māori and mainstream tourism sector on a local, national and global level.

The Board

• Prof Tom Roa - Kaumātua / Officer of the Board - Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato
• Dale Stephens - Chairman - Te Rarawa
• Dan Te Whenua Walker - Deputy Chairperson - Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Ruahine Rangi, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Maniapoto, Tūhourangi
• Verity Webber - Board Member - Ngāi Tahu
• Dr Xiaoying Fu - Independent Board Member
• Lee Ann Muntz - Board Member - Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Ranginui
• Vanetta (Minnie) Clark - Board Member - Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga

Membership

Please complete the form available here.  

To become a member you must be either primarily owned by Māori or a legally recognised business entity AND offer a Tourism product / experience in Aotearoa New Zealand Tourism Industry.

All applications for membership by a Māori Tourism Business must be approved by a resolution passed by a majority of the Board.