Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, with support from Auckland Council, has set aside funding for the next three years to deliver on outcomes that generate value in Auckland’s Māori tourism sector.
Titled ‘Treasures of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’, the project will support Māori owned businesses (including iwi enterprises) who operate in the visitor economy. Through the development of a dedicated web-based platform and promotional campaigns, Treasures of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is geared to amplify the visibility of Auckland’s Māori owned and operated tourism offerings.The platform will showcase a diverse collection of Māori tourism offerings and experiences.
The platform will showcase a diverse collection of Māori tourism offerings and experiences, both free and paid, that make Tāmaki Makaurau a unique visitor destination. Opportunities promoted on the platform will span the full visitor journey experience, ranging from tours to hospitality venues, retail shopping, performing arts, annual flagship Māori events; as well as showcasing places of Māori cultural significance.
We know that Māori tourism adds a rich dimension to New Zealand's visitor experience, and helps set New Zealand apart from the rest of the world. Positioning Māori tourism in this way provides the opportunity for Māori to take a leadership role in how visitors experience our region. It is our intention that in time, the platform will become the ultimate travel planning tool for international and domestic visitors wanting to discover and experience the rich cultural tapestry of Māori tourism offerings in Tāmaki Makaurau.
By utilising this collection, visitors can create memorable and culturally enriching travel experiences. This will help to strengthen the Māori tourism sector’s identity, accelerate targeted audience reach and increase opportunities for inclusion in international and domestic tourism media, public relations, and tourism trade activities.
We are at the outset of this journey and invite eligible Māori owned tourism businesses or operators of places of cultural Māori significance to apply for inclusion on the list of showcased treasures. The application period will run from 7 – 20 October and will be followed by an evaluation process. We anticipate holding a project launch towards the end of November 2024.
To qualify as a "Treasure of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland"
- You must be a Māori owned business that provides visitor services/experiences in Auckland. Please note that the evaluation process will prioritise being a majority Māori owned business with at least 50 percent Māori ownership. OR
- A place of historical, cultural or natural significance that protects and preserves Māori cultural heritage that is physically accessible to visitors in Auckland and has a written sign off or endorsement from the mandated iwi authority of that area.
We invite submissions for:
Submissions will be evaluated by a panel with representation from Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Whāriki Māori Business Network, New Zealand Māori Tourism, and Auckland Council. If successful, your Treasure will have an individual 'Listing' featured on the Treasures of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland microsite which will be promoted as part of marketing campaigns and media and PR activity targeting international and domestic audiences. Our aim is to grow this collection to more than 100 treasure listings over the next three years.If you have any questions or need help with the application process, please email treasures@aucklandnz.com.