Waka welcomes major conference business expo to Christchurch

Next week’s New Zealand Haere Mai MEETINGS 2006, will open with a splash rather than a bang with a waka paddled by key South Island Maoris including Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu kaiwhakahaere Mark Solomon and local upoko (chief) Rakihia Tau welcoming delegates to New Zealand’s largest business tourism expo.

Haere Mai MEETINGS 2006 will be a unique showcase of the South Island’s strong Maori culture, welcoming 170 conference industry buyers, plus international and local media and New Zealand tourism industry leaders.

Organised by Christchurch and Canterbury Convention Bureau (CCCB) the business tourism unit of Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism (CCT), the event will be hosted by several local tourism operators including Outrigger at Clearwater Resort in the city’s north west.

Haere Mai MEETINGS 2006 marks a significant milestone in New Zealand business tourism on the 10th anniversary of New Zealand’s only annual dedicated gathering for the conference, meetings, events, exhibition and travel incentive industry to be held in Christchurch from 18 to 20 July.

CCT Chief Executive, Ian Bougen, who will also be onboard the ceremonial waka to welcome guests, said the Christchurch and Canterbury region had much to offer business visitors with its excellent tourism infrastructure, as well as its diversity of scenery, activities and its unique cultural heritage adding, “Our destination offers a six-star experience for business visitors, with excellent meeting facilities and a rare location of mountains, lakes, rivers and coast steeped in beauty, history and culture.”

CCCB Manager, Annette Pendergast said the event was an opportunity to promote to the South Island’s unique cultural flavour to international convention and incentive buyers, adding, “We want to create profile and recognition internationally for the distinctive Maori culture of Te Waipounamu (South Island) developed over centuries on this land”.

“It is significant that this event happens at the same time as South Island Maori culture is being hailed at a major exhibition of Ngai Tahi Taonga at Te Papa this month,” she said.

Leading Christchurch Maori tourism operator and director of Ko Tane, Dave Brennan is co-ordinating the showcase of his Ngai Tahu culture, represented by leaders of Ngai Tahu and local runanga and he believes Canterbury offers authentic Maori cultural and natural history experiences that are distinctively different to others in New Zealand.

Report by The Mole