Manaakitanga

Cultural  Awareness & Values

Māori culture is a big part of New Zealand’s identity, so respecting, preserving and promoting this is vital. Here at Zealandier Tours we endeavour to practise right protocol, manners, and Tikanga (the Māori way of doing things), observing tradition and adopting the values of our people.

Manaakitanga

Zealandier Tours are in the business of hosting, and we take great responsibility in this task. We believe we are here to serve another person(s), to inspire a sense of welcoming, be warm and inviting, extending kindness and respect to our guests. We ask that they come in to our world for the time they are with us, not as visitors but as family. We want to introduce our guests to places and people of legend, to convey meaning, and significance. We want them to depart from our country with an experience that is unlike any other, one filled with memories of fondness and joy; of a nation of people that extend that sense of oneness- a oneness with each other, and a oneness with the world around us.

Kaitiakitanga

Zealandier Tours act as caretakers of New Zealand’s natural, cultural, and social resources. We host many overseas traveller’s each year, showcasing the natural beauty of our country, yet this is only made possible by ensuring we protect that which we have, that we take ownership and responsibility for how we interact with our surroundings, and the expectations we have of others doing likewise.  We do not turn a blind-eye to others ‘trespassing’ this quality, be that the destruction of plantations, pollution of water ways, the upsetting of wildlife, or mockery of our native people. We nurture what we have for the generations to follow.

Zealandier Tours supports Iwi-owned and managed attractions, creating sustainable relationships, investing in to the social and economic benefits this brings, along with the sense of autonomy this provides. New Zealand Māori history is rich with European settlers taking from the Māori people whatever they desired, leaving a devoid population. Only recently have we seen land possessed by the crown given back to the Māori people, re-instating their origins, promoting their spoken tongue, valuing the uniqueness of their culture, and assisting a re-establishment of their identity. We are a young country, a collective country, a unified country; a privileged country of which we value highly.

We invite you to come and enjoy all which we have to share.

To enhance your visit and time in New Zealand you may wish to learn a few Maori words and some protocols.