Murupara business on top

Wellington’s East by West Ferries, which launched the southern hemisphere’s first zeroemissions, fully electric, fast passenger ferry earlier this year won the Environment Award at the NZ Tourism Awards in Hamilton last night. A small Māori-owned tourism business based in the North Island town of Murupara was the big winner at the awards. Kohutapu Lodge and Tribal Tours lost 98% of its business because of Covid. It survived by focusing on the community, opening two new ventures and investing in rangatahi. The business offered visitors a unique experience, mixing a lodge stay with cultural experiences including school trips, a tour of Murupara and walks into the Kaingaroa Forest to see the oldest known Māori rock art carvings discovered yet, carbon dated to 1050AD. Kohutapu Lodge won the Regenerative Tourism Award, and the Community Engagement Award. The Tourism Industry Champion Award was won by John Barrett of Kapiti Island Nature Tours, while his tourism operation won the Māori Tourism Award. For the second year in a row, Queenstown’s iFLY Indoor Skydiving NZ won the employer of choice award. Bay of Islands coastal property The Landing won the Conservation Award following the planting of 1.25 million trees and big improvements to kiwi habitat and population. The Hollyford Wilderness Experience won the Visitor Experience Award for its immersive experience, weaving in tikanga and te reo. Queenstown’s Altitude Tours won the Resilience and Innovation Award.