MANAAKITANGA: MĀORI TOURISM IN AOTEAROA

The current travel situation has brought the opportunity to explore our country on a deeper level than ever before, and also to reflect on the kinds of local experiences we want to have. Of course, we’ll always love adventure tourism, beach-bumming, family camping trips, and carving up the ski slopes, but what about holidays that give us a deeper understanding of the spiritual history of Aotearoa?

We know many places have histories that are well-known from a Pākehā point of view, but there is an ever-growing number of outstanding Māori operators who can give us a perspective that hasn’t always been easily available to the tourist market. Walking through the Waipoua forest to see Tāne Mahuta is amazing, but doing it with a local guide from Footprints Waipoua (footprintswaipoua.co.nz) takes it to another level as you learn why this area is so sacred to local iwi — and in fact all Māori. Exploring Ōtautahi (Christchurch) on a walking tour is great — no one can deny its English charm — but doing it with Āmiki Tours (amikitours.com) run by three proud Ngāi Tahu local Māori will show you another side you never knew existed — from a Māori scholar in a great hall to traditional kai in the local river.

And it’s not just walking tours. Watch the sunrise atop Maunga Hikurangi, the mainland’s “first place in the world” to see the sun, and learn about the pou, legends and significance of this mountain to Ngāti Porou people — you can even plant a native seedling (maungahikurangi.com); paddle the Abel Tasman in a waka with Todd (Ngāti Raukawa) and Lee-Anne’s (Ngāti Māhuta, Ngāti Pou, Ngāti Raukawa) company Waka Abel Tasman (wakaabeltasman.nz )or gaze at the breathtaking view of the night sky on the Otago Peninsula with Horizon Tours (horizontours.co.nz), as you listen to Māori myths of creation, and how Te Ao Marama (the world of light) emerged.

This is only a small sample of what’s available. A bit of research will reveal so many other incredible ways to learn about our indigenous history, and experience manaakitanga unlike anywhere else in the world.