Client: Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa
Services: Tourism Consulting
Year: 2019
Contributors: Project Lead – William Stewart;
In 2019, we had the honor of representing Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa at the prestigious TIA Aotearoa Tourism Summit. Tasked with participating in a panel discussion titled “How to engage with Iwi tourism,” we seized the opportunity to share insights from our involvement with the development of the groundbreaking recently unveiled Ngāti Awa Pōhiri Rau regenerative iwi tourism strategy.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa was invited to join the panel discussion due to their significant interests in tourism and the innovative nature of their approach. As the tourism specialist within the team that developed the strategy, our Managing Director William Stewart was chosen to represent Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, bringing forth their unique perspective.
During the discussion, William emphasized the importance and value of establishing meaningful partnerships with mana whenua (local tribes) and nurturing internal Māori capability within organizations. These messages highlighted the significance of cultural collaboration and the need for genuine engagement with whānau, hapū and iwi.
By actively participating in the panel, we contributed to shaping the narrative around iwi tourism and advocated for sustainable practices that empower indigenous communities. Our presence underscored the Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa commitment to harnessing innovation to drive positive change in the sector and fostering authentic connections within the tourism industry.