New guide produces insight into depth of culture

Maori tourism has received a significant shot in the arm internationally with the launch of the first indigenous cultural Rough Guide ever produced.

Tourism Minister Mark Burton...
celebrating the new guide

The Rough Guide to Maori New Zealand was made available to the public for the first time at the TRENZ tourism trade show in Christchurch in May - where it was launched by Tourism Minister Mark Burton - simultaneously being distributed to an estimated 150,000 people at the Chelsea Flower Show in London.

Produced by the British publisher Rough Guides Ltd, the new pocket-size guide book runs to 96 pages, plus a full colour cover, and provides a comprehensive view Maori tourism and other cultural features within Aotearoa New Zealand.

The content of the booklet was collated by the National Maori Tourism Network and Tourism New Zealand and was compiled by the Rough Guides editorial team in London.

As well as providing regional information on the country’s different tribal areas, the Rough Guide to Maori New Zealand lists historical sites and major art galleries and museums which feature cultural displays and artworks.

It also has a listing of many of the best-established Maori cultural tourism operations, craft outlets and annual events, coupled with information on the indigenous culture, customs and language.

Associate Tourism Minister Dover Samuels says the publication of the Rough Guide to Maori New Zealand is a big step forward for the country’s cultural tourism sector.

“This publication is a first for our country,” he says. “It gives travelers a rare and unique insight into indigenous culture here.

“It also gives a strong Maori face to tourism in this country and it will be welcomed by international travelers wanting to experience the uniqueness of our indigenous culture.”