Tuesday, May 14, 2019
New Zealand still has a long way to go to value Māori culture and language in a proper way, said tourism operators.
Cultural tourism has increased radically over the past few years with more Māori businesses and experiences being offered around the country.
However, there are concerns that some of them might be focused more on profits than genuineness.
Napier Māori Tours owner and lead host Hinewai Hawaikirangi said that understanding of culture and Te Reo Māori had improved but the work was far from over.
Ngāi Tahu Tourism board director Tahu Pōtiki said it was a delicate balance between sharing authentic experiences and making a profit, and some businesses were not getting it right.
To quote Pōtiki, “You can see that people have tried to acquire components of Māori knowledge or performance to enhance their particular products, often with no connection to the people of the area, no genuine background or tribal history.”
Ms. Hawaikirangi started her business two years, and said that it was extremely hard to set up but the rewards were worth it.
Ms. Hawaikirangi encouraged more Māori to consider the value of sharing their heritage with visitors.
Tags: new zealand, value Māori culture
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