Strong sense of cultural identity drives boom in Māori business

Māori entrepreneurs with a strong sense of cultural identity and guardianship over the land and the sea are driving a boom in Māori business.

Māori businesses now account for an economic asset base of more than NZ$42.6 billion, according to the latest estimates. Small and medium-sized enterprises make up the largest part of the Māori economy.

These entrepreneurs are building on a business approach with ancient roots – a Māori way of thinking and doing business and its ability to reconnect with our common heritage as descendants of Papatūānuku, mother earth.

A number of developments are likely to be driving this.

Natural Heritage Fund protects species on Maungatautari

Aotearoa's largest mainland sanctuary, Mountain Maungatautari, has been granted $1.4 million to help protect some of the county's most threatened species.

The grant from the council's Natural Heritage Fund will be used over four years to maintain its 47km predator-proof fence.

Trustee Don Scarlet says the sanctuary is an amazing collaboration between community, iwi, councils and central government.

How to take award winning photos with your iPhone

Travcom are pleased to announce the first event for 2018.

Apple Ambassador and iPhone specialist, Russell Robson, from Spark New Zealand has many years’ experience with the iPhone. He is a guru when it comes to understanding the capability and functionality of the iPhone camera.
 
 He will teach you:

• How to take award winning photos with your iPhone
• How to get the most from your iPhone camera
• About the functionality of your iPhone camera so you maximise its capability.

Tuesday 27 March, 6pm, Heritage Hotel, Auckland. RSVP and more details here

Iwi bless site of new Earth & Sky Astronomy Experience

On Tuesday morning, Ngāi Tahu whānau held a whakawātea, a ceremonial blessing, on the shores of Takapō / Lake Tekapo at the site earmarked for an Astronomy Experience, marking a significant milestone for the project.

The interactive experience, designed to inspire and educate visitors about the night sky, is being built by the Earth & Sky Limited Partnership, a joint venture between Earth & Sky and Ngāi Tahu Tourism.

Earth & Sky staff, Ngāi Tahu Tourism staff, members of the Aoraki International Dark Sky Reserve Board and community members attended the whakawātea which was led by local Rūnanga Arowhenua, Waihao and Moeraki.

Tourism Data Domain Plan - Stakholder Workshop

The purpose of the Tourism Data Domain Plan is to achieve clarity and agreement from government and industry stakeholders about the main priorities for tourism statistics, and provide the strategy for addressing these priorities over the next five to eight years. 

It is intended that the 2018 Domain Plan will give:

•         A long-term picture of what is required to improve official statistics

•         A coordinated plan for addressing data issues

•         A cross-agency approach to long-term priorities

·         A framework for determining the highest priority information needs.

Attending a workshop will ensure you, and your organisation’s, views are heard as we work towards a plan for determining the highest priorities for tourism statistics and how tourism statistics and data can be improved.

We are seeking feedback from tourism industry and government stakeholders. Workshops will be held in Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown, Dunedin, Auckland, and Rotorua in March.

Attendance is free. For further information, please email TR_SharedMailbox@mbie.govt.nz