Keri-Anne Wikitera

Indigenous peoples throughout the world are increasingly becoming important to tourism development as nations seek becoming important to tourism development as nations seek to differentiate their tourism offerings to international to differentiate their tourism offerings to international markets. Māori (indigenous people of New Zealand) are markets. Māori (indigenous people of New Zealand) are integral to the tourism industry in Aotearoa (New Zealand).integral to the tourism industry in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Māori business owner/operators showcase the nation’s unique Māori business owner/operators showcase the nation’s unique point of difference, which is the Māori culture. For indigenous point of difference, which is the Māori culture. For indigenous peoples and in this case Māori tribal people, whose culture is peoples and in this case Māori tribal people, whose culture is the essence of their tourism business, there are further the essence of their tourism business, there are further challenges such as intellectual property protections, challenges such as intellectual property protections, workforce development, tribal leadership versus corporate workforce development, tribal leadership versus corporate management and how business decisions are prioritised.management and how business decisions are prioritised.Largely these businesses are not focussed on profit but ratherLargely these businesses are not focussed on profit but rather enhancing social well-being.enhancing social well-being.This BRIDGE talk will highlight the complexities involved inThis BRIDGE talk will highlight the complexities involved iniwi (tribal) based tourism where not only are there thousands iwi (tribal) based tourism where not only are there thousands of shareholders but where the business is multi-generational of shareholders but where the business is multi-generational and based on the tribes socio-cultural capital. Cultural capital and based on the tribes socio-cultural capital. Cultural capital that represents not only the cultural elements presented to that represents not only the cultural elements presented to tourists but forms the tribal identity, ancestral knowledge tourists but forms the tribal identity, ancestral knowledge systems, tribal economy, maintains the tribal estate, and systems, tribal economy, maintains the tribal estate, and engages the tribe in the local-global nexus of tourism.

Dr Keri-Anne Wikitera is a Senior Lecturer in the School ofHospitality and Tourism at Auckland University ofHospitality and Tourism at Auckland University ofTechnology and member of the New Zealand TourismTechnology and member of the New Zealand TourismResearch Institute. Her hapū, Tūhourangi Ngāti Wahiao and Research Institute. Her hapū, Tūhourangi Ngāti Wahiao andNgāti Whakaue of Rotorua are recognised as the nation’s first Ngāti Whakaue of Rotorua are recognised as the nation’s first Māori tourism entrepreneurs and as such her research Māori tourism entrepreneurs and as such her research interests are specifically positioned within promoting and interests are specifically positioned within promoting and enhancing Māori cultural identity, intercultural exchange, the enhancing Māori cultural identity, intercultural exchange, the tourism industry, indigenous history and knowledge systems.