New Zealand Māori Tourism

About Us

Māori tourism, as the first impression and final exclamation mark for visitors to Aotearoa New Zealand visitors, is important to NZ Māori Tourism.

The Māori world provides a key point of difference for visitors and entering this world offers a fascinating first impression, a unique connection, and everlasting memories.

NZ Māori Tourism works collaboratively with the Māori tourism sector to ensure visitors arrive as strangers but leave Aotearoa New Zealand as members of our whānau (family).

Board Members

To learn more about the NZ Māori Tourism board members, please read the profiles below. The contact details for each board member can also be found here.


Dr Tom Roa - Kaumātua / Officer of the Board

Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato
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Dr Tom Roa is Te Mata Ahurangi (Tikanga Advisor) of the University of Waikato and an Associate Professor at Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao/The Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies at the University. He is an expert in translation between te reo Māori and English; and the oral and written history of Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto and the Kīngitanga.

Tom has researched, contributed to, and published on a Māori classificatory regime for flora and fauna; Māori traditional ecological knowledge; the theory and practice of translating from and into te reo Māori; Māori men’s health; and Māori military history.

He has served for many years on Te Whakakitenga o Waikato, the Waikato-Tainui parliament, including as its chairperson. He has also been a member and chairperson of Te Arataura, the Waikato-Tainui executive board, serving as a Director on Tainui Group Holdings, and a Trustee of the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Lands Trust, The Waikato Raupatu River Trust and various lands and marae trusts in the King Country. He is also a Justice of the Peace and was appointed as a member of the Waitangi Tribunal in 2016.

Email Tom

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Dale Stephens

Dale Stephens - Chairman

Te Rarawa

Dale Aotea Stephens serves as the Chair of New Zealand Māori Tourism.

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He brings a wealth of experience championing Māori aspirations in both the public and private sector as a director on a range of Māori investment and social agency entities.   Drawing on his extensive experience in the public sector and background in human resources, investment and consultancy, Dale has guided government agencies and led organisations as CEO in NZ and Asia Pacific. He has previously served on numerous private sector boards across a range of business interests.

Dale and his wife Tarina (Te Atiawa) are proud parents of six and live in Ōtautahi Christchurch. His deep appreciation for learning has granted him various academic accolades in Business Management,  Master of Public Policy, te reo Māori and a Master of Laws.

Email Dale

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Dan Te Whenua Walker - Deputy Chairperson

Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Ruahine Rangi, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Maniapoto, Tūhourangi

Dan Walker is a proud husband and dad. Born in Christchurch, Dan remains a proud Cantabrian despite settling in Tāmaki Makaurau with his whānau. His main whakapapa links are with South Taranaki.

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Dan has over 25 years’ experience as a senior manager in enterprise IT and tech leadership companies such as Samsung, Dell Technologies and now Microsoft. He currently works in the Cloud Solutions and Applications team.

Dan has a passion for Māori success in business and the growth of leadership capacity within our iwi, hapū and whānau. Outside of NZ Māori Tourism, he is Pou Tuarā of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui, Director of the Centre for Social Impact, Chair of Whānau Mārama Parenting and Director of Korowai Hikuroa Consulting Limited.

Dan has an MBA from the University of Auckland, a Masters in Advanced Leadership Practice from Massey University, and a Diploma in Management and te Reo Māori.

Email Dan

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Verity Webber - Board Member

Ngāi Tahu


Verity Webber is an Investment Manager at Ngāi Tahu Holdings Corporation and a board member of Shotover Jet Limited and Dunedin Venues Management Limited.

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Previously Verity was General Manager Commercial at Ngāi Tahu Tourism for twelve years and during that time led the acquisition of several tourism experiences and had deep involvement in several greenfield development projects, including the Dark Sky Project in Takapo, and the All Blacks Experience in Tāmaki Makaurau. She also led the finance and risk functions.

While Verity is a chartered accountant and has experience in several other industries including export, food and beverage, consumer goods and facilities management, what she is deeply passionate about is the tourism industry and delivering amazing customer experiences while helping to achieve Ngāi Tahu’s wider goals.

Verity previously served on the New Zealand Māori Tourism board from 2015 to 2021 and is excited to be back as part of the team and representing the members and Te Waipounamu.

Verity lives in Ōtautahi, Christchurch and has whakapapa links to Ōtākou, Awarua and Waihōpai.

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Xiaoying Fu - Independent Board Member

Dr Xiaoying Fu - Independent Board Member

Xiaoying is an expert on bilateral trading and investment between New Zealand and China. She has worked on many of the investments into New Zealand from China, and has helped many New Zealanders to do business there. Xiaoying has a strong understanding of various industries, and good insights into them.

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Xiaoying is currently chair of the NZ China HiTech Innovation Alliance, and was on the board of Kiwa Digital, Pure-Ora Mountain Ginseng Ltd and New Zealand Asian Leaders. She is a member of the Institute of Directors.

By training, Xiaoying is a scientist and an IT professional. She was a lecturer at Nanjing University before pursuing further overseas study in the United Kingdom. Xiaoying has a guiding passion for innovation, hi-technology and education.

Email Xiaoying

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Lee Ann Muntz

Lee Ann Muntz – Board Member

Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Ranginui

Lee Ann Muntz is the Director and founder of Aotearoa Experience Limited who offer consultancy services, bespoke tours and events with a particular focus on experiencing Māori arts and culture along the beautiful scenery and attractions of Aotearoa.

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Born in Australia but raised in Turangi, the former bank worker fell into the tourism industry through her love for people, sport and kapa haka. Since launching Aotearoa Experience, Lee Ann has gone on to serve as the Chairperson for Tainui Waikato Tourism and board member for AIO (American for Indian Opportunity).

She has also been an active presence in her Māori community and undertaken various roles affiliated with her children’s schooling – treasurer of Pōhara Marae, trustee for Ngāti Koroki Kahukura Trust and board member for Ngā Taiātea Wharekura to name a few.

When the proud kuia and māmā of four isn’t hosting manuhiri or serving her communities she enjoys travelling and relaxing with friends and whānau.

Email Lee Ann

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Vanetta (Minnie) Clark, Board Member

Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga
Minnie has been involved in her whānau run tourism venture for over 15 years. Kapiti Island Nature Tours has been the recipient of many regional and national awards for excellence in tourism.
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It is a growing and profitable business with Māori values including: kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga, rangatiratanga, whanaungatanga, kotahitanga and ūkaipōtanga.  Minnie is involved in all aspects of the operation – strategy planning, management, administration, marketing and reservations.  She has both an administrative and practical understanding of the inner workings of a tourism venture.

Minnie is a mother of three and lives in Manakau. She is an active member of her children’s marae, Wehi Wehi, and her own marae, Whakarongotai.  

Her whānau has lived and worked on Kapiti Island for close to 200 years.

Email Minnie

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