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Maori Tourism Mentoring Programme

MAORI TOURISM MENTORING PROGRAMME

Thank you for your interest in the Maori Tourism Mentoring Programme (MTMP). We have had a lot of interest in the programme, and have a wide spread of businesses throughout New Zealand currently participating in the programme.

The applications for the MTMP for 2009/10 have now closed. Extension of the programme to 2010/11 is still to be confirmed. However, if you are interested in participating in the programme next year should this be available, we do encourage you to Register your Interest.

The Maori Tourism Mentoring Programme assists Maori cultural tourism businesses to be profitable and sustainable.

The Programme is delivered by Tautoko Enterprise Support Ltd in conjunction with experienced business assessors and specialist tourism mentors. There are no fees to participate in this programme.

Benefits to you
You will emerge with a business development plan and assistance from specialist tourism mentors that assist your business to deliver authentic quality experiences, to plan for sustainable development, to become industry accredited and an active participant in international tourism distribution and marketing.

Why a Maori Tourism Mentoring Programme?

What is the purpose of the Programme

Who is Eligible?

What is the application process?

Some Questions and Answers

Maori Tourism Mentoring Programme Assessors/Lead Mentors

Maori Tourism Mentoring Programme Mentors

Why a Maori Tourism Mentoring Programme?

Maori have been an integral part of New Zealand's tourism industry since its earliest days.

Today, Maori tourism offers visitors a unique experience that provides an insight into the culture, traditions and activities of the indigenous people of New Zealand.

Maori enjoy a positive relationship with the tourism industry and the New Zealand government and Maori tourism has been recognised as having great potential for growth.

Business development work within the Maori tourism sector is guided by the priorities and actions in the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015. The Strategy was developed by the tourism industry, government and Maori. The key actions relating specifically to Maori tourism include:

Ensuring that the unique elements of Maori culture are reflected in the way New Zealand's brand is positioned internationally, and in national and regional product development.
Ensuring that quality Maori tourism products and services are better integrated throughout the full range of wholesale and retail distribution channels.
Building business capability through Maori business facilitation programmes.
Increasing the number of Maori tourism businesses involved in quality accreditation schemes such as Qualmark and Toi Iho.
Helping tourism businesses to incorporate a Maori dimension into the products and services they provide.
Increasing the range of Maori products and services being offered to the international and domestic markets.
Strengthening relationships between Regional Tourism Organisations and Maori Regional Tourism Organisations to maximise the development of Maori tourism product.
Understanding and using the value of Kaitiakitanga (guardianship) as the basis for the tourism sector's actions to enhance the environment.
Communicating and promoting the concept of Manaakitanga and its importance in hosting both domestic and international visitors.
Building the capability of the i-SITE network to promote local culture, and building connections with the local tangata whenua and with the iconic landscape of each region.

The Ministry of Tourism with the support of the New Zealand Maori Tourism Council have worked together to secure resources to re-establish a Maori tourism-specific Mentoring Programme for delivery in 2009/10. This Mentoring Programme will help achieve several of the NZTS 2015 actions relating to Maori tourism. Continuation of the Programme for 2010/11 is still to be confirmed, depending on the level of demand for it and confirmation of Ministry of Tourism resourcing.

What is the Purpose of the Programme?

While international visitor interest in Maori cultural tourism is high, the rate at which that interest is being converted into bookings is low.

This situation exists because of a low level of awareness of the range of Maori cultural tourism product that is available, and a limited presence of Maori tourism in the international distribution chain, which links product supply with international demand.

Research indicates that there is significant potential to increase consumption of Maori cultural tourism products by international visitors.

The Maori Tourism Mentoring Programme is the only mentoring programme currently focusing on developing Maori cultural tourism capability to meet international demand.

The Programme seeks to deliver services that complement those being provided by other mentoring programmes.

The overall aim of the Mentoring Programme is to assist Maori cultural tourism businesses to be profitable and sustainable. The core outcomes of the Programme are to assist Maori tourism businesses to:

Deliver distinctive, authentic and high quality experiences.
Be able to plan for future sustainable development, especially given the current global financial crisis
Become industry accredited, particularly with Qualmark accreditation.
Be more active participants in New Zealand's international tourism distribution and marketing.

Tautoko Enterprise Support Ltd has been contracted by the Ministry of Tourism to complete the design and lead the delivery of the Maori tourism mentoring project in 2009/10.

The Programme designed by Tautoko enables Maori tourism businesses to have access to an experienced business assessor who will prepare a business development plan in consultation with the owner. The business owner will then be supported by specialist tourism mentors with the implementation of the tourism elements of their business development plan. Where mentoring support is required for general business development, the business will be referred to other programmes, where available.

These business assessment and tourism mentoring services are provided at no cost to the participating businesses. However, businesses will be expected to meet their own costs of participating and implementing their business development plans.

Who is Eligible?

The Maori Tourism Mentoring Programme will assist Maori tourism businesses that already have strong basic business skills and Maori cultural product with the development of tourism-specific elements of their business.

While all Maori tourism businesses interested in participating in the programme will be considered, preference will be given to businesses that are:

Already a legal entity, whether profit based or non-profit based, that is recognised in NZ Law as entitled to carrying out a business.
Already trading and have furnished GST returns for at least one full year
Already have Maori cultural components in its product/service offer. This will normally comprise of Maori people with a beneficial interest in the business, sharing their own stories and their own culture and traditions with their guests
Prepared to commit to the completion of a mentoring plan
Willing to investigate Qualmark accreditation, where that is appropriate to the business

What is the Application Process?

Applications for the Maori Tourism Mentoring Programme 2009/10 have now closed. However we do encourage you to Register your Interest for the next Maori Tourism Mentoring Programme intake. By registering your interest, we can keep you updated on developments around the continuation of the Programme. Should the Programme be continued in 2010, you will need to complete a full Expression of Interest form to start the application process for 2010/11.

Some Questions and Answers

How do I register for the Programme?
Complete the short and simple Register your Interest form.
Do I have to pay to participate in the Programme?
No, there is no fee to participate in the programme. However, businesses will be required to meet their own costs for participating.
Is a Maori tourism business able to apply to participate in the Programme if it has previously received mentoring assistance or is currently receiving assistance from another programme?
YES, all applications from Maori tourism businesses will be considered but priority will be given to those businesses that best meet the eligibility criteria for the Maori Tourism Mentoring Programme.
If the number of eligible businesses exceeds the Programme resources, what criteria will be used to determine who can participate?
Regard will be given to a range of factors including the number of years trading, the tourism focus of the business, the cultural components currently offered to visitors.

Tourism Assessors / Lead Mentors

Zella Morrison, Assessor

Zella has been involved in the tourism industry for over twenty years having started her career as a tour guide and working with Coach companies. This provided a grass roots entry into the industry and over the years she has developed an intimate understanding and knowledge of the tourism trade. She is currently operating a cultural tourism company and provides advice and services to a number of key inbound tour operators.

She has a professional background in accounting and marketing and was accepted to complete her Masters. In addition she has been involved with a research company examining Maori elements that have been used and marketed in global trade industries including tourism.

Joe Doherty, Assessor

Joe Doherty

Joe identifies as Ngai Tuhoe, and has whakapapa links to Ngati Awa, Ngati Whare and Ngati Kahungunu.

His background covers many years working within the public sector across a number of areas at both regional and national levels.

In 1998 Joe established his own management consultancy business, Kitea Developments Ltd and in 2001, teamed with a group of associates to establish a Maori focussed HR Company, KP Solutions (Kete Pumanawa Ltd).

In 2003, after almost 20 years of living and working in Wellington, Joe and his family returned to his tribal roots in Te Urewera, to establish their own tourism business, Te Urewera Treks. Both Joe and his wife are actively involved in helping encourage the growth and development of tourism across the wider Te Urewera region.

Joe now chairs Te Urewera Rainforest Route Inc. and he also sits on the boards of a number of local iwi and community trusts and organisations.Joe is also a board member of the NZMTC.

Dominic Moran, Assessor

Dominic is of Irish and Scottish descent which his children share along with their Ngati Rarua and Ngati Toa ancestry.

He currently lives in Te Tau Ihu, Blenheim and is a fifth generation Marlburian. Dominic frequently travels within Canterbury, West Coast and Nelson/Tasman. Dominic has Bachelors and Honours degrees in psychology and sociology from Canterbury University and a Doctorate degree in tourism from Lincoln University. He has worked on numerous tourism planning projects throughout New Zealand and has held senior management and executive positions in regional tourism.

Oscar Nathan, Assessor

Oscar has tribal affiliations to Te Aupouri and Ngapuhi.

Oscar holds a wealth of experience from within the Tourism industry, from previous appointments such as Chief Executive of Destination Rotorua, Chief Executive of Tamaki Heritage Experiences and Acting Chief Executive of TIANZ. He currently holds a number of board appointments including Deputy Chairman of TIANZ, Chairman of Maori in Tourism Rotorua and directorships at Te Puia, Waiariki Polytech and the Rotorua Tourism Board.

In 2006 he co-established Twenty 4 Seven Consultancy that provides mentoring advice to SMEs throughout the Bay of Plenty, and with his wife Renee he established Renosc Group Ltd that aims to establish a legacy of financial and cultural excellence in the tourism and hospitality industries.

Oscar is also the business advisor for Poutama Business Trust across the Waiariki, Mataatua, Tainui and Tai Rawhiti regions.

In 1999/2000 Oscar was named the New Zealand Young Executive of the Year by NZIM/IMB/NZ Management Magazine. He has a Bachelor of Management Studies, majoring in international marketing and management and Maori resource management from The University of Waikato.

Melissa Irace, Assessor

Melissa was born in France and grew up in Singapore, London, Bermuda & New York. She has worked in Marketing and PR for 16 years.

After gaining an honours degree in History from Kings College, University of London, Melissa worked in various marketing roles spanning industries as diverse as IT, engineering, tourism corporate relocation and television. She worked her way up to marketing manager level and by the age of 30 managed marketing departments for large nationwide British companies.

Melissa emigrated to New Zealand in 2002 for lifestyle reasons and lived in Queenstown and Rotorua before settling in Northland in 2005. She now lives in Kawakawa with her husband, artist Wiremu Wilson-Diamond (Ngati Manu) and their baby daughter Isabella.

Ken Hill, Assessor

Ken is a Director of Maori Economic Development Ltd with his wife Tania Kelland (Ngati Tuwharetoa) and services the Taranaki, Whanganui, Ruapehu and Taupo Rohe and established the local Maori Business Network, Te Patu Manawa.

Ken is a business mentor for Te Puni Kokiri’s Maori Business Facilitation Service and is a member of the Institute of Directors, Economic Development Association of New Zealand and Institute of Management.

He was the Ruapehu Districts Economic Development Manager and the Regional Tourism Organisation Manager of Destination Ruapehu and regularly attended TRENZ.

Ken has held executive positions in New Zealand and overseas in the public and private sectors and is completing a Masters in Management at Auckland University Business School, building upon his Post Graduate Quality Management.

Tania Harris, Assessor

Tania has Iwi affiliations to Ngati Whaatua and Ngati Porou

She is a business and marketing consultant specialising in tourism with an emphasis on cultural tourism development.

Tania is the creator of Living Landscapes, and is also a tourism Assessor to Maori tourism businesses offered through The Ministry of Tourism funded Maori Tourism Mentoring Programme delivered by Tautoko Enterprise Support Ltd.

She has networks in both the regional, national and international tourism industry organisations.

Associates and Mentors

Michael Gibbons, Mentor

Michael affiliates to Ngati Maniapoto O Waikato. He currently resides and works in Rotorua and gained his educational qualifications through the Auckland University Executive Management Programme. His 25 years experience in business ownership and management includes roles in Retailing, Hotel Management, Franchising, International Marketing, Destination Marketing, and Import / Export Manufacturing.

Mike is a current member of the Institute of Accredited Business Consultants (NZ) and has held numerous mentoring/coaching roles. His extensive experience within the tourism industry includes roles as CEO for Tamaki Tours, International Marketing Manager for Rotorua District Council and Chairman of Maori in Tourism Rotorua. Over the years Mike has gained valuable networks in the tourism industry within Qualmark, TIANZ, Tourism New Zealand and the Inbound Tour Operators Council.

Craig Wilson, Mentor

Craig runs his own tourism consultancy Quality Tourism Development Ltd and has worked for over 15 years in the New Zealand tourism industry. He is based in Nelson but travels to clients all over the country. He was previously General Manager, Marketing and acting Chief Executive for Tourism Auckland. Prior to that, Craig was Marketing Manager and Business Development Manager for Tranz Scenic. Craig has extensive experience in the cultural tourism sector and experience in working with small to medium businesses. This includes developing regional cultural tourism strategies for The Ministry of Tourism, developing and operating Tourism Fast Track - a training programme for owners and managers of tourism businesses, and an Assessor/Mentor for the Maori Tourism Facilitation Service. From his work in the tourism industry, Craig has gained valuable networks with TIANZ, Qualmark, Tourism NZ, The Ministry of Tourism, The Ministry for Cultural and Heritage, TPK and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise amongst others.

Graeme Osborne, Mentor

Graeme Osborne is a Pure Mathematics graduate from Massey University. Graeme has an extensive leadership and governance background in the visitor sector that includes developing, leading and recovering some of New Zealand’s icon tourism businesses (Rainbow’s End, Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World (leading the NZD20m Penguin exhibit development), The NZ Maori Arts & Crafts Institute (Te Puia) and the Waitomo Glow-worm Caves and Hotel). He is presently a Director of: Te Puia, Manukau Leisure Services Ltd, The Visitor Information Network Ltd, The Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand, and is also Chairman of the Auckland Visitor Marketing Workstream for the Rugby World Cup 2011.

Graeme has been Chief Executive of Tourism Auckland since October 2000. He is a strong advocate for Maori tourism, having established the Maori Regional Tourism Organisation in Auckland and a taumata a iwi for Tourism Auckland. He led the development of Tamaki Hikoi, a guided Maori walk based on one of Auckland’s better known (dormant) volcanic cones, Maungawhau and has been a key driver of a Maori visitor experience concept for the Otuataua Stonefields in Manukau City.

Joanna Doherty, Mentor

Joanna has a strong background in general business, with tourism marketing being a particular focus. She has worked in the tourism industry for almost eighteen years. Her experience includes marketing manager roles at Turoa Ski Resort and Te Papa, as well as time at Tourism New Zealand. At Te Papa she was part of an award winning team who grew Te Papa's domestic and international tourism business to 1.2 million visitors in its first year. She also set up their conference and venue business to generate over $1million revenue in its first 12 months of operation. Joanna has over ten years experience working in a bicultural environment as well as experience working with iwi and Maori Organisations.

Joanna also has a wealth of experience in working with media, branding, developing promotional tools, databases, international tourism marketing, and marketing on a shoe-string.

Together with husband Joe she has been running her own consultancy business for the last seven years, and in 2007 they set up their own guided walking business, Te Urewera Treks.

Heather Manawatu, Mentor

Heather is co-partner with her husband Maurice Manawatu in Maori Tours Kaikoura, a small yet well established boutique tour company they set up in 2001. Heather is of mainly Scottish and Irish descent and describes herself as a hands on, practical person who likes to “get in and get the job done, whatever it is.”

Heather has extensive tourism experience, including the establishment and operation of Maori Tours Kaikoura, management roles within Whale Watch Kaikoura, Executive of Kaikoura Information and Tourism Inc, and is currently a board member of Envision Kaikoura. Heather also provides business mentoring to tourism related businesses.

Throughout her almost 20 years in the tourism industry Heather has developed, nurtured and maintained valuable relationships with a wide range of business partners in the private and public sector, both in New Zealand and internationally. Some of the organizations she has worked with include: TIANZ, Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism, Qualmark, Tourism New Zealand, The New Zealand Maori Tourism Council, Hurunui Tourism and Te Puni Kokiri to name a few.