New Zealand has made great strides in putting Māori culture front and centre for locals and visitors to the country. Australia can learn from this, says Gavin Dennett
As the birthplace of New Zealand’s Māori tourism, Rotorua is the nation’s cultural epicentre. It boasts a spectacular blend of natural geothermal wonders and deep cultural connections with the past, and the city is thriving as a destination to mix business and fun.
Located in the Bay of Plenty region, on New Zealand’s North Island, Rotorua is a unique cultural and natural wonder with Indigenous roots dating back to the 14th century.
The city’s spiritual connection to the local Te Arawa people shapes its identity, making it the beating heart of New Zealand’s Māori culture. Visitors to the city – which sits on the shores of Lake Rotorua and has a population of almost 60,000 – are treated to a destination deeply influenced by the warmth of its people who adhere to the principle of “Nau mai haere mai”, which means, “Welcome to our place”.
Friendly and beautiful, there is nowhere else quite like it.
As a geothermal city, Rotorua is a stunning hotspot of geysers and hot mud pools, set against a backdrop of rolling green hills. With geothermal springs spread throughout the city, visitors can witness the earth breathing as steam billows from various locations, bringing an otherworldly sense of excitement and awe. Despite having origins in the raging Earth’s core, the natural heated springs deliver the city a calming and therapeutic rhythm.
As the host city of MEETINGS 2024, which Spice attended in June this year, Rotorua laid out the red carpet as the events industry descended for a week of showcasing, networking and incentives. Hosted by Business Events Industry Aotearoa, and held at Energy Events Centre – Rotorua’s largest events space – it delivered a synergy of cultural enlightenment, generous hospitality, work and play. It also showed off Rotorua as an elite business events destination.
“Rotorua is the ultimate destination for business events, offering a unique blend of natural beauty and modern amenities,” says Vanessa Wallace, business events manager at RotoruaNZ, the region’s economic development agency and regional tourism organisation.
“Our world-class conference facilities, stunning geothermal landscapes, and rich Māori culture create the perfect backdrop for inspiring and memorable events. Whether it’s a large-scale conference or an intimate corporate retreat, Rotorua provides an exceptional environment for networking, innovation and success.”
Gavin Dennett in Rotorua
With Māori culture so prevalent in everyday life in Rotorua, visitors get an acute sense of its importance to the community and how it shapes the city’s soul. When it comes to tourism and business events, each experience is weaved within a tapestry of education and appreciation of Indigenous tradition, customs and connection.
Speaking to locals, New Zealand has made great strides in the past five years in making Māori culture front and centre for locals and visitors to the country. Its language is heard, its people are seen, and its customs are understood.
For a visitor from Australia, there are many learnings to take away from Māori immersion as we make strides in connecting with 60,000 years of our Indigenous culture. We have also come a long way – the business events community is a leader in this space – but after experiencing how New Zealand does it, there are huge opportunities for our country to enhance appreciation of the culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples on this side of the ditch.
Lead image credit – Miles Holden
