New local tourism operators Thelma Karaitiana of Ngā Parae o Manutūkē and Grant Brown of Motu Outdoor Adventures recently joined the Regional Tourism Organisation (RTO), Tairāwhiti Gisborne, at this year's eXplore trade show held in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Held over two days, eXplore united domestic and international buyers alongside over 200 tourism providers from the Central North Island, fostering opportunities to showcase regional offerings and establish new trade connections and relationships. The RTO, alongside a number of local tourism operators, including Thelma and Grant, used the opportunity to highlight Tairāwhiti Gisborne’s unique visitor experiences and strengthen the region’s visibility in the market.
The RTO have been working alongside Thelma and Grant to support the development of Ngā Parae o Manutuke and Motu Outdoor Adventures. This helps increase the regional tourism offerings and appeal of Tairāwhiti as a must-see and must-do visitor destination.
Ngā Parae o Manutuke delivers an authentic, pōwhiri-led cultural experience grounded in the tikanga and kawa of Ngāi Tāwhiri. Manuhiri (visitors) are welcomed onto Ohako Marae and connect through shared kōrero and kai, all delivered with manaaki (support).
“After our first tour consisting of 40 cruise passengers, the feedback we got was that this was the most genuine cultural experience they’d had in Aotearoa,” says Thelma. “eXplore opened our eyes to how we can grow and bring our rangatahi into the kaupapa. It helped us see that we are tourism operators, and that there’s value in what we already do. We left with more clarity, new ideas, and a real drive to connect more with others in the sector.”
Grant’s Motu Outdoor Adventures offers 4WD tours over 35 kilometres of rugged, off-road tracks set across 1,000 hectares of regenerating native bush once used by East Coast loggers. The experience is designed for visitors seeking land-based adventure, from guided tours to BYO 4WD options.
“eXplore helped me better understand what trade buyers are looking for and how to present our product more strategically,” said Grant. “It boosted my confidence and gave me a clearer direction for how the business can grow, for both trade and domestic visitors.”
Both operators said the event strengthened their sense of identity in the tourism market, confidence in their unique offerings, and helped them forge valuable new connections.
“We’d love to see more local operators brought together,” said Thelma. “There are so many pockets of greatness in Tairāwhiti. By strengthening our local connections, we’d make an even bigger impact.”
eXplore is organised annually by Explore Central North Island, a tourism trade marketing collective of eight regions along the Pacific Coast Highway, Thermal Explorer Highway and the Volcanic Loop.