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  MRTO  FEATURE / NEWS

  
Tai Rawhiti Ventures Inc

Events Management Training Workshop
Skills Active held a 2 day Events Management Workshop on 18-19 April here in Te Tairawhiti and one further up the coast in Ruatoria on 20-21 April, which were facilitated by Ngahiwi Apanui. This training workshop was held in conjunction with the Aotearoa Matariki Project.

We in Tairawhiti had many prestigious tauira from various backgrounds all bringing along varied skills and experiences. Participants came from Gisborne, Wairoa and Te Mahia to attend which allowed us to establish and re-establish great connections. Participants agreed that Ngahiwi presented it in an excellent manner that enlightened and re-confirmed many of the issues around planning an event. He provided us with valuable planning tools and templates whilst sharing information from his personal events management experiences all to equip us with basic necessities for event management. The common feedback after the workshop was that the participants felt it was a useful and worthwhile workshop to attend, and Ngahiwi was an exceptional facilitator.

New Inductee into Tai Rawhiti Ventures
Tai Rawhiti are proud to share that we have three new positions within Tai Rawhiti Ventures that have been introduced this year. The positions are Pouhere Kaupapa or manager and two Kaitakawaenga Umanga Tapoi Māori positions which are mobile liaison officers set up to support all members and their tourism businesses as well as emerging operators.

We have appointed Samantha Cotter as Kaitakawaenga Umanga Tapoi Maori for Tūranga, Matawai, Waikaremoana, Te Mahia and Wairoa, with not only the focus on these main points but all points surrounding them as well. The second Kaitakawaenga Umanga Tapoi Maori position is for Tatapouri to Wharekahika and all points in between, this position has yet to be appointed.

Kaitakawaenga Umaga Tapoi Maori profile – Samantha Cotter
‘I have always had a passion for Travel and Tourism since I was a young girl living in Australia. I have always been a traveling baby, child and now adult. I love experiencing new places, cultures and people. To further pursue that passion I decided to study Travel and Tourism in Rotorua whilst immersing myself in the tourism culture there. I spent 5 years working in the industry which gave me a unique insight into the world of tourism. I have had the opportunity to discover other countries and their cultures and I am now looking forward to working with whanau from home here on the coast to uplift tourism in our region and share our wonderful culture and stories with the world, as many cultures of the world have shared with me’.

ITOC
For the first time in 34 years Gisborne will be hosting the Inbound Tour Operators Council of New Zealand (ITOC) Conference on Tuesday 11th – Wednesday 12th August 2009. ITOC are a Trade Association representing the New Zealand inbound tourism industry.

The powhiri will be held at Te Poho o Rawiri Marae 12pm Tuesday 11th August with The Emerald Hotel being the main base for the conference procedures.
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Tauranga Moana Maori Tourism

On Thursday 16th April at Hairini Marae, Tauranga Moana Maori Tourism hosted Simon Bridges (National MP for Tauranga), Te Ururoa Flavell (Maori Party MP), Neville Forman (NZMTC) and Henare Johnson (Tourism NZ). The audience was comprised of local iwi, Maori and Pakeha tourism operators, Tourism Bay of Plenty and local interested parties. 

Simon spoke about how tourism in Tauranga is relatively untapped, and if that is the case, then Maori tourism in Tauranga is untapped, and the need to nurture and develop that potential. Neville Forman spoke about how there were approximately 600 Maori tourism operators nationwide and that only 59 of them were 'export ready'. Neville spoke about the NZMTC goal to increase that number by 50 Maori tourism operators a year. Henare Johnson spoke about the merits of Qualmark and the positive impact that Qualmark can provide for Maori tourism operators.

Te Ururoa Flavell spoke about the need for Maori tourism operators to work collaboratively with each other and with other relative stakeholders. Te Ururoa also spoke about the need for Maori tourism to lift its image and profile through high quality presentation and delivery. Both Simon and Te Ururoa gave their support to Tauranga Moana Maori Tourism in our future endeavours.
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Whanganui MRTO

Spirit of the River Jet
Born to the region, tangata whenua owners Brent and Claire Firmin share their passion for the Whanganui Awa and surrounds with a distinction that provides guests an intimate and personable journey, with their priority being the visitors enjoyment. They provide an insight into life on the Awa, both past and present, whilst allowing visitors to enjoy the spectacular scenery along the way.

Brent and Claire arrange tailored itineraries on the Whanganui Awa to ensure visitors have a memorable experience, including visiting their family Marae - Pungarehu, accommodation, canoeing, jet boating, delicious and wholesome home cooking, bushwalking and journeys to The Bridge to Nowhere, The Flying Fox and many other fantastic spots on the Awa.

For further information, please visit their website www.spiritoftheriverjet.co.nz and also www.rankers.co.nz. Rankers is a small, independently owned company with no bias towards any tourism business.  It is a resource for travellers to find honest feedback on things to do around Aotearoa New Zealand.

Whanganui River Adventures
Looking for the ideal adventure? Then this one is for you, rewarding as well as affordable! Let Ken and Josephine of Whanganui River Adventures, and their local staff be your guides on an unforgettable and memorable adventure into the world they grew up in, and still reside in today with their knowledge, stories and history passed down to us.

They offer options to suit everyone: a fully guided personalised tour by jetboating to scenic and historic sites, listen to the stories, enjoy a 40 minute bushwalk, The "Bridge to Nowhere" and a relaxing unguided return canoe journey back to Pipiriki. This is a great way to spend a day on the Whanganui River. Half day tours to the "Bridge to Nowhere" including ½ day canoe hire, road transport to Pipiriki from Raetihi, Ohakune and National Park are also available.

For further information visit their website www.whanganuiriveradventures.co.nz
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Te Ara a Maui

Recently Te Ara a Maui facilitated a two day tourism assessment workshop to identify Ministry of Social Development clients from the Wellington region. The aim is to identify potential employees who would be suitable for employment with our tourism operators and tourism in general in the in the region. Our goal is to continue to identify Maori who can enter the tourism and hospitality industries and we are planning to run similar workshops in the Nelson Marlborough region.

Contact: Gail Parata Email: gail@taamtourism.co.nz or DDI 04 815 9047

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Maori in Tourism Rotorua

Maori in Tourism Rotorua coordinated a Tourism Industry hui earlier this month.  It was an opportunity for local industry representatives to hear the thoughts of a range of speakers including the Associate Minister of Tourism, Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman.  Covering topics from diversification in the current economic climate to preparing for the Rugby World Cup opportunities, each of the speakers delivered timely and thought provoking messages.  Following a networking lunch the hui continued with workshops offering advice on business strategies to training opportunities and support services available.  The hui was well attended and those gathered made the most of the opportunities to discuss their areas of interest with industry and business representatives.   Maori in Tourism Rotorua is keen to ensure its members are kept up to date in all areas and provide information via newsletters, regular networking events and several hui each year.

For further information on Maori in Tourism Rotorua contact info.mitr@xtra.co.nz

www.maoritourism.co.nz/mrto_map.htm 

  

Nga mihi nui ki a koutou

We are pleased to acknowledge and celebrate one of our own in this issue. Matua Tom Mulligan, one of our NZMTC councillors, has been awarded the Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the New Years Honours List for this year.  He received the medal from the Governor General at a function held on March 25th. A lunch was held on the 26th at Matahiwi Marae for Tom’s family and friends, where the acknowledgement of Tom’s contribution to Maori across a variety of areas, including tourism and rugby, was celebrated. Tom was part of the original Maori Tourism Advisory Group that contributed to the NZTS2010 and had some good outcomes for Maori tourism. Thanks Tom for your contribution. We appreciate you and join with you in celebrating this honour.

It’s great to see the revised Maori Tourism Mentoring Programme up and running again, with the support of the Ministry of Tourism. Johnny Edmonds and the team from Tautoko Enterprises will be working with NZMTC to ensure as many Maori tourism operators as possible have the opportunity to benefit from this mentoring programme. More information is detailed in this newsletter.

Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) along with the Tourism Industry Association (TIA) continues to monitor the effect of the Swine Flu outbreak on our tourism industry. Both organisations are working hard to keep our sector informed of what’s going on. We suggest you keep in touch with this as it is a changing situation – it is important we are all clear on the messages. The following websites can keep you up to date with the latest information:

Tourism New Zealand – www.tourismnewzealand.com 
Tourism Industry Association – www.tianz.org.nz/files/swine-flu-special-t-mail-1-may.pdf 
Ministry of Health - www.moh.govt.nz
Anyone wanting more information can call Health line on 0800 611 116.

Nga mihi
John Barrett, Chairman
NZ Maori Tourism Council

www.maoritourism.co.nz

AROUND THE MAORI TOURISM WORLD
 

AN INVITATION TO OWNERS OF MAORI TOURISM BUSINESSES

The Maori Tourism Mentoring Programme 2009-10

The Ministry of Tourism, supported by the New Zealand Maori Tourism Council, have agreed to implement a mentoring programme to assist Maori cultural tourism businesses to be profitable and sustainable.

Purpose of the Mentoring Programme
The purpose of the mentoring programme is to assist Maori tourism businesses to:

  • Deliver distinctive, authentic and high quality experiences
  • Be able to plan for future sustainable development, especially given the current global financial crisis
  • Become industry accredited, particularly with Qualmark accreditation
  • Be active participants in New Zealand’s international tourism distribution and marketing

The Benefits of the Programme
The benefits to Maori tourism businesses that qualify to participate in the mentoring programme are:

  • Identification of critical business priorities through access to an experienced and independent tourism business assessor
  • Followed by access to specialist tourism and other mentor(s) who will advise the business owner on the implementation of the priority business development areas

To Qualify for the Programme
Any Maori tourism business can apply but should already have good basic business skills. Priority will be given to Maori tourism businesses that meet the following criteria:

  1. Already a legal entity, whether profit based or non-profit based, that is recognised in NZ Law as entitled to carrying out a business
  2. Already trading and have furnished GST returns for at least one full year
  3. Already have its own Maori cultural component in its product/service offer. This will normally comprise of Maori people with a beneficial interest in the business, sharing their own stories and their own traditions with their guests
  4. Already or willing to investigate Qualmark accreditation, where appropriate

In return, the Maori Tourism Business will be expected to commit to the implementation of the agreed business development plan prepared for the business and fulfil tasks and activities identified to assist it to improve its performance.

Interested? – What To Do Next
If you are the owner of a Maori tourism business, think you meet the criteria and you are interested in being considered for inclusion in the mentoring programme, then complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) at www.maori-tourism-mentoring.co.nz/index.php/maori-tourism by 22 May 2009.
 
 

ACTIVITIES UNDERWAY

AOTEAROA MATARIKI PROJECT  

We are slowly getting Matariki Events listed on the website ranging from kite making, Maori Indoor games held at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort in Waitangi to a film festival being held in Wairoa to Art exhibitions in Kerikeri and Gisborne.

If you know of anyone who is organising a Matariki event this year, it doesn’t matter if it is big or small, if the event celebrates Matariki it can be listed on the website for free, visit www.matarikievents.com to register.

If you would like to have a korero please call or email our Matariki Coordinators at the details below:

Vonese Walker
Ngati Tukorehe / Ngati Raukawa / Ngati Rangiwewehi
Phone: +64 4 815 9046
Mobile: +64 21 683 681
Email: Vonese@maoritourism.co.nz

Lee Beazley
Nga puhi / Ngati Hine / Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki / Ngai Tamanuhiri
Phone: +64 4 815 9042
Mobile: +64 27 554 4416
Email: lee@maoritourism.co.nz

MAORI TOURISM DATABASE UPDATE

NZMTC is working closely with Poutama on a collaborative project that will collate the most up to date information on Maori tourism in New Zealand.

 

Both organisations have had separate databases. Poutama with resource support from the Ministry of Tourism developed a Maori tourism website called Indigenous New Zealand. Embedded into the website is a database that collected statistical data on each Maori tourism business that registered with on the website. The Indigenous New Zealand website was developed prior to formation of the New Zealand Maori Tourism Council (NZMTC).

The NZMTC is in the process of updating its database and the information on its Living Landscapes website. This collaboration will allow both the NZMTC and Poutama to work with the best information we can gather between us and to provide a current, accurate "back end" that will continue to feed both www.inz.maori.nz and potentially the Living Landscapes website.

An amalgamation of the databases will have other benefits, including:
  • An increased level of detail regarding the tourism operators on the database.
  • Increased number of contacts in the tourism market
  • An increased level of collaboration between NZMTC and Poutama to tourism market needs
  • Contact details for potential partners not currently involved in tourism; and
  • Provides increased marketing opportunities for Maori tourism operators who will have access to an expanded range of contacts.

"It makes complete sense for these databases to be merged, particularly given the current climate where organisations are finding ways of working together. Poutama and NZMTC have slightly different focuses but tourism is a common feature of our work. To be able to provide an accurate, credible database that guides the development of Maori tourism is vital for our development in the future. Maori tourism will reap the benefits of a co-operative approach to this project", says John Barrett, Chairman NZMTC.

Poutama CEO Richard Jones says it is a waste of resources to duplicate information that has already been collected and seemed pointless to have two databases on Maori tourism operators. The merging of the NZMTC database information with the Indigenous New Zealand website makes good sense and will effectively provide a one-stop-shop for the collection and analysis of information on the Maori tourism sector. Richard says that by doing this, resources can then be more effectively targeted to help benefit Maori tourism operators.

NZMTC and Poutama are finalising the questionnaire that will be sent out to all our database contacts. This questionnaire will also be available on the NZMTC website shortly and operators will be asked to complete and return these forms by 31 May.

For further information contact:

Vonese Walker
Poutama
Phone: 021 683 681
Email: vonnese@poutama.co.nz

Dawn Muir
NZMTC
Phone: 04 815 9041
Email: dawn@maoritourism.co.nz

HELPFUL TOURISM RESOURCES

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

8 / 11
Jun 09

TRENZ, ASB Showgrounds, Auckland
www.trenz.co.nz

5 / 6
Aug 09

Ecotourism NZ Conference, Nelson
www.ecotourismnz.com

11 / 12 Aug 09

ITOC Conference, Emerald Hotel, Gisborne
www.itoc.org.nz/eventinformation.asp

OTHER TOURISM NEWS

TRENZ 2009 8 June – 11 June

TRENZ brings together around 1200 New Zealand tourism operators and international buyers for four days of focused business-to-business activity.

Recent widespread consultation with the tourism industry has shown that TRENZ continues to be a flagship event for New Zealand’s tourism industry. Keeping New Zealand’s tourism industry on the world stage and giving individual tourism businesses the opportunity to promote their product is seen by operators as a top priority.

At TRENZ this year, 17 Maori tourism operators will be attending. These include some newcomers to the event including Waka Toa Enterprises and Tidal Waters Loghouse, both of Gisborne.

Monday, 8 June 2009 (2 - 4pm)
ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, Auckland

The Industry Showcase provides attendees with an excellent opportunity to meet with operators from a diverse range of New Zealand tourism companies and is designed for individuals involved in delivering or buying product for international and domestic visitors, future TRENZ Exhibitors, as well as tourism industry training providers and students.

For attendees, Industry Showcase offers them the opportunity to:

  • attend New Zealand’s largest tourism tradeshow
  • meet operators from a diverse range of New Zealand tourism businesses
  • see the wealth of career opportunities available in tourism

To check out if this is the right opportunity for your business go to www.trenz.co.nz

TOURISM SKILLS STRATEGY

The Maori Tourism Council is assisting ATTTO, our industry training organisation, to complete key research regarding the training requirements and skills gaps within the Maori Tourism sector. The Sector Skills Strategy Action Plan that will result will specify the training needs and the training delivery methods that are most effective for developing the capability of the tourism sector.  (Similar work is being undertaken in travel, aviation and museums, ATTTO's other sectors.)

ATTTO have enlisted the help of NZTRI (New Zealand Tourism Research Institute) to undertake research directed at identifying specific skills gaps, issues related to current training delivery methods, ongoing professional development needs, as well as promotion and retention concerns that face the Tourism sector, to inform the skills strategy.

MRTOs will soon receive a letter from NZMTC and ATTTO outlining the process around this research project. The project hopes to interview a representative sample of Maori tourism businesses. The interviews will be in the form of either a face-to-face discussion or a phone interview, and should take about an hour.  A web survey will be conducted at the same time to gather a broad base of responses to inform the Skills Strategy.

This is an excellent opportunity for you, as well as the Maori tourism sector, to contribute directly to the training and skills development of the tourism sector and I hope that you will be able to find the time to participate in this important work.

The reported research and resulting Skills Strategy Action Plan will be made available to respondents and to the wider tourism sector later in the year.

For further details contact:
 Doris Kaua
ATTTO
Phone: 04 815 9823

FINAL NZMTC COMMENT
 
 Kia ora koutou
 
 There are interesting times ahead as the effects of a new government and the economic recession meld into a melting pot of changing times for us at NZMTC.

We are doing some strategic development work with our MRTOs and council at present, looking at our core role and how we can best support the development of the Maori tourism sector.

Relationships are very important and Council has spent a considerable amount of time and energy ensuring we make the right connections with the right government and tourism agencies that can best support our work.

One partner for us at present is our tourism industry association – TIANZ. The Chairman and I have had some long sessions with the TIA team on ways we can work together and how NZMTC can bring a better Maori voice into their own work.

We continue with the development of the Living Landscapes brochures alongside our MRTOs and their operators. This initiative is a great way for Maori tourism to work together and to add great value to the visitor experience. If you are a Maori tourism operator and HAVEN’T heard about this, please contact our office directly.

Phone: 04 815 9038
Fax: 04 815 9049
Email: info@maoritourism.co.nz

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou
Neville Forman
Chief Executive

STOP PRESS

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori (the Maori Language Commission) inform us they have a supply of very useful booklets produced for Te Wiki i te Reo Maori in 2007 titled, "He korero mo Aotearoa", reflecting a tourism theme.

These booklets contain a great source of basic phrases that are useful for visitors, operators and learners of "te reo Maori". If you want copies for your own business or to give to your manuhiri (visitors), please contact Lee Beazley in our office on 04 815 9038 or by email: lee@maoritourism.co.nz and we can arrange for you to receive copies. There is a $1.00 cost per booklet.
 

 LOCAL MRTO DETAILS

Area / Region

Living Landscapes Area

MRTO's

Contact Details

Northland ITai Tokerau

The tail of the Fish of Maui

Tai Tokerau Tourism

www.taitokerau.co.nz

Auckland | Tāmaki Makaurau

The tail of the Fish of Maui

Auckland MRTO

www.aucklandmaori.com

Taupo | Te Arawa

The belly of the Fish of Maui

Central North Island Maori Tourism

www.newzealand.maori.nz

Rotorua  | Te Arawa

The belly of the Fish of Maui

Maori in Tourism Rotorua

www.nzmaoritourism.com

Bay of Plenty, Tauranga | Mataatua

A Living Landscape – Giving Life

Tauranga Moana

www.tgammt.co.nz

East Coast | Tairawhiti

The resting place of the waka
(canoe) of Maui

Tai Rawhiti Ventures Inc

trv@actrix.co.nz

Hawkes Bay | Takitimu

The hook of Maui

Hawkes Bay

www.hbmaoritourism.co.nz

Taranaki

The fin of the Fish of Maui

MTT (Maori Tourism Taranaki)

www.mtt.org.nz

Whanganui, Manawatu |
Te Kahui Tupua

Ruapehu - place to subdue the Mana of the Fish of Maui

Whanganui

www.whanganuiriver.co.nz

Wellington, Kapiti, Wairarapa, Nelson, Marlborough |
Te Ara a Maui

The head of the Fish of Maui & the prow of Aoraki canoe

Te Ara a Maui

 www.taamtourism.co.nz  

South Island & Stewart Island
 | Te Waipounamu 		The waka (canoe) of Maui & the anchor of Maui Te Waipounamu  twmrto@gmail.com

© 2009 NZ Maori Tourism Council

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