Leading Taupō tourism operator Taupō Moana Group Holdings welcomes well-known tourism identity Andrew Husheer to the position of General Manager of Chris Jolly Outdoors and Taupō Parasail.
Andrew has made the move from Queenstown to join the Taupō based operation and quips that he has moved from “one incredible tourism destination to another, but this one has a bigger lake!”
While the South Island has been home to Husheer for the past two decades where he has led renowned experiences for legacy tourism operators such as Real NZ (formerly Real Journeys) and Larnach Castle along with Ngāi Tahu tourism business, Dart River Safaris, Andrew says the move north brings him closer to family and his home region of Hawkes Bay.
For Husheer, there are some treasured synergies between his previous roles and the new one with Chris Jolly Outdoors and Taupō Parasail. Firstly, working with legacy family businesses has been something that Andrew has revered in his previous roles with the likes of Real Journeys and Larnach Castle. Likewise, the opportunity to work with an iwi based tourism business is also familiar ground having most recently held the position of Business Manager for Ngāi Tahu Tourism owned, Dart River Safaris.
With both Chris Jolly Outdoors and Taupō Parasail now being in the majority ownership of Taupō Moana Group Holdings (TMGH), a commercial subsidiary of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, the values, particularly of manaakitanga and whānau resonate strongly with Andrew and were a major drawcard for considering the role.
Husheer will bring his two decades plus of business and operational management experience to both iconic businesses assisting in the transition to a full ownership model in 2026 by TMGH and also working closely with incumbent General Manager Simon Jolly on future proofing the operation in areas of health and safety, compliance and best practice. “The team is wholly committed to working toward ensuring that our guests have the very best experience when they come to Taupō. Our goal is creating outdoor experiences of a lifetime"
For the Chris Jolly Outdoors team this could be aboard one of their four vessels offering a range of on-water experiences from exclusive charters and fly fishing to cruising aboard one of the two large scenic cats. Chris Jolly Outdoors also caters for land lovers with hiking and biking tours to complement or as an alternative to being out on the water. Or at Taupō Parasail providing a little more adrenaline filled experience on either of the Parasail vessels.
Looking to the path ahead, Husheer is excited by the opportunities and challenges that his new role offers. This includes a focus on “growth and increased performance on what is already a high performing business with a 45-year legacy of caring for visitors and sharing stories and experiences that are unique to Taupō but loved by visitors the world over.” On a personal note, Husheer describes his “passion for people and being able to offer a quality experience” as key drivers for joining the Chris Jolly Outdoors team.
Andrew commenced his role the first week in November and reports to TMGH director Hayden Porter while working closely alongside Simon Jolly who remains as a director and shareholder of Chris Jolly Outdoors and Taupo Parasail until July 2026.
