Aotearoa/New Zealand is a unique destination blessed with spectacular scenery and a rich indigenous culture. While our guests may seek out our adventure tours to experience the thrill of adrenalin and visit bucket-list destinations, we know that to provide an authentic New Zealand experience we need to incorporate Māori cultural elements into our tours.
This understanding is written into our company’s purpose statement: “to foster deeper connections between our manuhiri (guests), our land and our culture through exceptional travel experiences.”
To address the under-representation of Māori tour managers within New Zealand, Haka Tourism Group set up a Māori Tour Manager Scholarship to actively encourage and assist more Māori to consider tourism as a career.
The scholarship is up to $5,000 in training for New Zealand citizens of Māori descent, over the age of 18 to get their Passenger Endorsement, Class 2 license, any required bus driving tuition, first aid certificates and anything else that a Tour Manager needs for this demanding, but life-enhancing role.
Since 2018, we’ve had two Māori Tour Managers awarded the scholarship and join our Haka Tourism Group whanau and our goal is by 2025, over 50% of our tour managers are of Māori descent.
Our Tour Manager scholarship is just the start for Haka Tourism Group as we want to extend this to include entry level management roles within our Haka Lodges and Haka Hotels.
Whanau means family. And this is exactly how it is working for Haka Tourism Group – where you meet awesome people along the way and make connections that last a lifetime.
Becoming the first recipient of the Māori Scholarship in 2018 was a dream come true. For many years I dreamed about showing guests around our beautiful and unique country and Haka Tours have given me this amazing opportunity.
KIA ORA!
Receiving the Māori Tour Manager Scholarship was a true honour and privilege for me and my whanau!
I have a huge passion for my Māori culture and I’m extremely proud to work for a company that promotes Māori in a positive light and creates a pathway for opportunity in the tourism industry. He kākano ahau i ruia mai i Rangiātea
