New Zealand Māori Tourism

Road Map

Whether you’re starting a tourism business for the first time or your business is now established and ready to export, knowing what resources are available across the tourism landscape can assist in growing your business. This Tourism Road Map will help point you in the right direction to find the resources available.

Early Development

The organisations below offer support and guidance for tourism businesses that have are in the early development stage of their business.

Information and Advice

These organisations can help your business with information and advice:

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Business.govt.nz (BIZ)

Business.govt.nz provides free access to a wide range of resources. It acts as a gateway to government and private sector business information, news and services. On the site there are practical resources and links to information to help business owners and managers start, manage, grow or exit their businesses, and deal with the day-to-day challenges they face.

Business.govt.nz also covers a wide range of Government rules and regulations affecting businesses in New Zealand in information on how businesses can meet their compliance requirements.

  • Starting a business
  • Staff & HR
  • Tax & Reporting
  • Laws & Regulations
  • Support & Advice.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA)

The Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) is the lead national private sector organisation speaking on behalf of the tourism industry. It is membership-based, with more than 1500 members who collectively make up about 85% of New Zealand’s tourism turnover.

TIA’s goal is to lead the tourism industry and create an environment that helps our members’ businesses grow and flourish. TIA keep the tourism industry at the centre of political and public attention.

TIA do this through education and advice, business savings on core expenses, political influence and being available to our members when needed.

TIA successfully influence government policy that impacts on our members such as ACC levies, infrastructure development and freedom camping.

The information and advice TIA provide helps members stay up to date with industry issues, respond to trends, take advantage of opportunities and overcome challenges.

TIA hold events aimed at addressing key industry issues, plan for future prosperity and celebrate success. These include:

  • TRENZ, New Zealand’s largest annual tourism business event.
  • Annual TIA Summit
  • Regional workshops and seminars

Full membership of TIA offers a great range of services and discounts. For most TIA members, the savings pay back the membership investment many times over.

TIA employs specialist staff with a range of expertise that members can take advantage of. Whether you are having problems with your local council, need support in dealing with the media or are looking for information to help with your business decisions, TIA may be able to help. TIA understand that being in business is challenging, even in the best of times. The more members and support TIA has, the stronger our collective voice and the more influence we have on policy and decision making that affects your business.

Te Puni Kōkiri

Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Maori Development) is the Crown’s principal adviser on Crown-Māori relationships. Te Puni Kōkiri also guide Māori public policy by advising Government on policy affecting Māori wellbeing and development. Te Puni Kokiri means a group moving forward together. As the name implies, Te Puni Kōkiri seek to harness the collective talents of Māori to produce a stronger New Zealand.

To contact your local Māori Business Growth Advisor, email:

Te Tai Tokerau - MaoriBusiness.TeTaitokerau@tpk.govt.nz
Tamaki Makaurau - MaoriBusiness.Tamaki.Makaurau@tpk.govt.nz
Waikato-Waiariki - MaoriBusiness.Waikato-Waiariki@tpk.govt.nz
Ikaroa - Rawhiti - MaoriBusiness.Ikaroa.Rawhiti@tpk.govt.nz
Te Tai Hauauru - MaoriBusiness.TeTaiHauauru@tpk.govt.nz
Te Waipounamu - MaoriBusiness.TeWaipounamu@tpk.govt.nz

Economic Development Agencies (EDA)

Economic Development Agencies New Zealand (EDANZ) supports, coordinates and advocates for economic development agencies (EDAs) throughout New Zealand. EDAs work with their local authorities to deliver programmes in the regions.

In partnership with local and also central government, EDANZ can tap into a wealth of knowledge and practical expertise in the economic development field, helping to further New Zealand’s economic performance.EDANZ is organised as 14 key regional groups at the governance level to provide national coverage.

MBIE - Tourism Research & Data

Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) – provides advice to the Government on how it can create the right environment for enhanced productivity and growth in the tourism sector in order to grow tourism’s contribution to the New Zealand economy. MBIE also collect, analyse and publish tourism data, such as international visitor expenditure, and evaluate the effectiveness of government initiatives that impact on tourism.

New Zealand Intellectual Property Office

Mātauranga Māori (most commonly translated as Māori knowledge) encompasses the body of knowledge originating from Māori ancestors. It includes the Māori world view and perspectives, as well as Māori creativity and cultural practices including Te Reo, the Māori language.

Intellectual property rights help ensure that Māori culture and traditional knowledge is recognised and respected. It also gives rights to benefit commercially while preventing exploitation or inappropriate use.

New Zealand’s patent and trade mark laws include specific provisions for the protection of mātauranga Māori. These provisions help prevent the registration of trade marks or granting of patents that would be considered offensive by Māori or contrary to Māori values.

New Zealand Business Number (NZBN)

NZBN transforms how businesses share their key information and interact with each other. Communicating with a range of other businesses (including suppliers and government agencies) is crucial, and can be difficult when everyone has different systems. NZBN changes all that, providing a universal identifier which enables businesses to easily update and share information.

Tourism New Zealand (TNZ)

Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) is the organisation responsible for marketing New Zealand to the world as a visitor destination. Tourism New Zealand's corporate website provides information about TNZ’s key visitor markets, news and insight, upcoming trade and business events and the organisation’s prioritisation of key sectors. Information to enhance your tourism business and information on NZ’s tourism industry are also available.

New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE)

NZTE is New Zealand’s international business development agency. Our role is to help New Zealand businesses grow bigger, better, faster in international markets.

NZTE’s strategy supports the Government’s Business Growth Agenda which creates conditions that encourage successful businesses to grow globally.

NZTE’s customers are New Zealand’s internationalising businesses. We work with approximately 1500 – 2000 businesses at any one time and focus intensively on an active portfolio of 500 that have the scale and ambition to succeed internationally.

NZTE programmes and services are designed to support businesses to grow and succeed internationally and are focused primarily on refining strategy, improving performance, building global networks, and in-market support for business development.

NZTE align their service with different stages of a business lifecycle – from starting and growing a business, through to exporting and operating internationally – and help address the scale and distance issues faced by New Zealand exporters.

NZTE has 10 offices in New Zealand and staff in 36 locations around the world. NZTE work in partnership with New Zealand businesses, helping to build strategic alliances and develop commercial relationships. We connect them with opportunities and contacts in international markets, and share our knowledge, experience and networks to help businesses develop capability and scale.

Tourism Export Council of New Zealand (TEC)

The Tourism Export Council of New Zealand (TECNZ) is a trade organisation comprising of inbound tour operators(ITOs) who package both group and FIT itineraries and product suppliers eg. attraction, activity, accommodation, transport and other tourism service providers. TEC represent the majority of key tourism operators of New Zealand and responsible for 60-70% of all international visitor arrivals.

TECNZ is like the “Fonterra of Tourism”. TEC promote New Zealand offshore (private sector) and buy all the product onshore. This differs from Tourism New Zealand who are the public international marketing arm who we work with on joint ventures, but they are not trade or purchase any New Zealand product. TIA or the Tourism Industry Association is the advocacy and policy organisation who represent our interests to Government.

TEC also produce the Planning for Inbound Success booklet, a guide to understanding and working with New Zealand inbound tour operators.

Regional Tourism Organisations New Zealand (RTONZ)

RTONZ provide advice to the Government on how it can create the right environment for enhanced productivity and growth in the tourism sector in order to grow tourism’s contribution to the New Zealand economy. We also collect, analyse and publish tourism data, such as international visitor expenditure, and evaluate the effectiveness of government initiatives that impact on tourism.

Worksafe New Zealand

WorkSafe New Zealand (WorkSafe) is the work health and safety regulator. WorkSafe works collaboratively with businesses, undertakings, workers and their representatives to embed and promote good work health and safety practices.

WorkSafe’s functions include:

  • Monitoring and enforcing compliance with work health and safety legislation
  • Providing guidance, advice and information on work health and safety
  • Fostering a co-operative and consultative relationship between the people who have health and safety duties and the persons to whom they owe those duties and their representatives.
  • Collecting, analysing and publishing statistics and other information relating to work health and safety.

Department of Conservation

Individuals have unlimited access to conservation land for recreational purposes, provided their recreational activity is allowed within the area. However, commercial operators and businesses require a permit to access public conservation land and this is done through DOC’s concession process. Learn more about concessions here.

To interact with or handle wildlife and marine mammals, or use public conservation land other than for personal recreation, you need authorisation from DOC. If you’re not sure which research or wildlife authorisation you need, try the decision-making tool.
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Business Development

These organisations can help your business with development and training

Kōkiri Business Accelerator

Kōkiri is a 4-month startup accelerator programme where we select up to 10 early stage companies to participate in a programme designed for Māori, by Māori.
Kōkiri will provide the 10 start-ups with the following:

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  • Business startup workshops
  • Access to cash funding for the development of your product or innovation
  • Opportunity to identify and obtain the resources you need to grow your business
  • Co-working space and facilities
  • Access to international and local mentors with industry and technical expertise
  • World class business training and mentoring
  • Access to national and international investor groups
  • Business exposure

Business Mentors New Zealand (BMNZ)

The Business Mentors New Zealand service assists with over 60,000 SME owners – with this number increasing every day. We engage with over 4,300 clients every year; and supported by over 1,800 volunteer mentors and 28 Agents (Economic Development Agencies and Chambers of Commerce) based throughout New Zealand.

Funding to support delivery of the service comes primarily from the Private Sector of New Zealand business – businesses that understand the challenges business owners in our SME sector face and how the viability of these businesses links directly to the health and wellbeing of our local communities and national economy.

Business.govt.nz

Staff training and development is fundamental to business growth. It can help sales, save staff hours, create more efficient production methods, improve technical systems and more.

Unfortunately it’s also something that’s often ignored by many small business owners because it is seen as too time consuming or expensive.

Learn about some of the options available for your staff to develop skills, as well as grow or improve your business.

Employment Agreement Builder

This tool helps you create tailored employment agreements for your staff. Employment agreements are a legal requirement – and a great foundation for an employment relationship.

It covers what you must do by law, and also sets out common mistakes made by employers and how to avoid them. It takes about 30 minutes to complete.

Workplace Policy Builder

Policies set out the rules for your workplace, and together with an employment agreement, are a great foundation for employment relationships. Policies tell your workers what you expect from them, and what they can expect from you.

This tool guides you through the steps to create a variety of policies tailored to your workplace. A policy can be as short or as detailed as suits you and your business.

Training for Business Owners

There are lots of free workshops and seminars available to small business owners.

Your industry body and local Chamber of Commerce will be good places to ask if there are any relevant workshops and seminars coming up.

Check out:

Other useful resources include:

Business Calendar

This calendar will help you find a range of opportunities, training, general compliance dates, and related tasks from across Government quickly and easily. Over time, you will also find events from the private sector where they are related to what you do with Government.

Pulling everything in to one handy place will make it easier for you to identify and participate in events and opportunities that will support your business growth and help you to understand and meet your obligations.

Government Help with Training

If you want to support or train your staff, the government is here to help.

From Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) to courses in basic English and maths, take advantage of these offerings to help you upskill your workforce and develop your business.

Tourism New Zealand (TNZ)

Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) is the organisation responsible for marketing New Zealand to the world as a visitor destination. Tourism New Zealand's corporate website provides information about TNZ’s key visitor markets, news and insight, upcoming trade and business events and the organisation’s prioritisation of key sectors. Information to enhance your tourism business and information on New Zealand’s tourism industry are also available.

Qualmark

Qualmark is New Zealand tourism’s official quality assurance organisation, providing a trusted guide to quality travel experiences. Qualmark makes it easy for travellers to select high quality places to stay, things to do, and ways to get around. When you see a business displaying the Qualmark symbol you can be assured that the business has met stringent quality standards and environmental criteria - earning New Zealand tourism’s official quality mark.

By looking at all aspects of your business – from cleanliness to the extra services you provide, staff professionalism and management practices – Qualmark helps you strengthen the experience you offer. If helps you prioritise investments, identify where improvements can be made, and to keep you up to date with industry development and visitor expectation.

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Business Networks

These organisations can help with business networks:

Regional Business Partner Network

The Regional Business Partner Network helps New Zealand businesses innovate and grow by making it easier to access early stage business support. The network is made up of 14 Regional Business Partners throughout New Zealand and is supported by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and Callaghan Innovation.

We can help you:

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— gain outside perspective from an independent, experienced business advisor in a confidential environment

— identify the next steps for your business

— connect you with the local business community, industry networks and clusters.

— match you with a mentor from Business Mentors NZ

— provide access to Capability Development vouchers

— provide access to research and development (R&D) funding.

Wellington Māori Business Network (Te Awe)

Te Awe has a strong membership base representing small to medium sized businesses through to large corporates. Non-Māori Business people can also take advantage of our Associate Membership option. Te Awe’s purpose is to promote, assist and encourage Māori in business through regular networking Hui where Māori Business owners meet and share their business successes and challenges.

There are regular high quality networking hui where information and contacts are shared together with great ideas. Exposure to a number of highly successful Māori and non-Māori business leaders presenting and discussing contemporary business issues.

The biannual Te Awe business awards encourage you to participate and be recognised for your business achievements and the awards celebrate who we are as a people in business e.g. whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, and our Māoritanga.

Southern Business Network Otago/Southland (Kuma)

The Incorporated Society is drawn from the Establishment Group and the Māori business community. Their responsibility is for governance and management of the network and for delivering on the KUMA business plan.

Membership to the KUMA network allows access to:

  • The KUMA website which is the central point of contact, profiling members, their business and informing of local training opportunities and events.
  • The 2-Day Annual KUMA Hui held on local Marae which is free to subscribed members. This Hui brings together members from across the regions to meet while learning from inspiring guest speakers.
  • Developing relationships between KUMA and the Otago University School of Business to partner senior students with members to conduct research on ways to improve aspects of their business. Please advise administration if you are interested in taking part in these projects.
  • Monthly Hui in each region
  • Dunedin Monthly Breakfast.

Te Manawa Pou Tahi – Tauranga Māori Business Association

Te Manawa Pou Tahi – the Tauranga Māori Business Association (TMBA) – has a vision of assisting Māori Business people in Tauranga and elsewhere to achieve success.

The mission statement for the organisation is that it aspires to be a friendly and inclusive organisation that is perceived as being useful, versatile, relevant and effective with a business focus. TMBA promises to act with integrity and incorporate traditional Māori tikanga and values where relevant. The organisation aims to be influential and a strong local and national lobbyist on behalf of Māori business.

FOMA - Federation of Māori Authorities

FOMA was established in 1987 to foster and advance the economic interests of Maori authorities. We deliver on this purpose by keeping our members informed and connected. We provide pathways and tools for members to develop profitability, performance and sector specific skills. We provide members with a strong national voice. By regular communication with industry and government, we are able to represent members’ interests on issues of national importance.

Te Hūmeka - Waikato Māori Business Network

Te Hūmeka Māori Business Network was founded in Waikato in 2010 as a non-profit organization whose main function is to support Māori Business and provide platforms for Māori Businesses to network on a local, national and international scale.

Our organisation operates under the values of tikanga Māori, manaakitanga and kotahitanga in particular.  We hope that through our work, we can support Māori in realising their economic aspirations to achieve economic prosperity.

The name “Te Hūmeka” was gifted to us from Maharaia Paki (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Whawhakia), and comes from a whakataukī of King Tāwhiao.  His kōrero reflects the concept of “globalisation” and the importance of utilising the different skill sets of many, to assist us in achieving our aspirations.

Te Manu Atatu - Whangaui Māori Business Network

Te Manu Atatu is the name of the Whanganui Maori Business Network that was constituted as an Incorporated Society in 2000. Earlier this year, a new working party met alongside some of the original executive committee to transition Te Manu Atatu into a new era.

Te Rōpū Pakihi - Kapiti & Horowhenua Māori Business Network

Te Rōpu Pakihi supports the growth and development of Māori enterprise in the Kāpiti Coast and Horowhenua region. The membership believes that it is the influence of kaupapa tuku iho that makes our businesses unique contributors to our communities. The Network meets regularly to tautoko each other in business and community; we hold functions throughout the year to whakawhanaungatanga amongst ourselves and with others; we celebrate Māori business through our awards programme.

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Funding

The organisations listed below may be able to help with funding for your business:

Tuawhenua Provincial Growth Fund

The Provincial Growth Fund aims to lift productivity potential in the provinces. Its priorities are to enhance economic development opportunities, create sustainable jobs, enable Māori to reach their full potential, boost social inclusion and participation, build resilient communities, and help meet New Zealand's climate change targets.

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All provinces are eligible for funding, however, Tairāwhiti/East Coast, Hawke's Bay, Tai Tokerau/Northland, Bay of Plenty, West Coast, and Manawatū-Whanganui have been identified for early investment.

More details on the Provincial Growth Fund can be found here, along with application forms.

Māori Economy Investor Guide

The Māori Economy Investor Guide will help investors understand the Māori economy, culture and people.  It offers insights as to how and where potential investors can engage with Māori enterprises, embrace the distinctive global advantages of the Māori economy, and forge strong partnerships for the future

Māori Innovation Fund: Te Punaha Hiringa

Purpose: Increase the skills, knowledge and networks of Māori collectives, and help them to engage more effectively with the wider enterprise development and innovation systems to realise the economic potential of their assets through the employment of commercial advisors.

Amount: Up to $60,000 per grant, funding of 25% or more required by applicant.

Frequency: One round per year.

More details on Te Punaha Hiringa can be found here.

Tourism Infrastructure Fund

The Tourism Infrastructure Fund provides financial support for local tourism-related infrastructure where tourism growth is placing pressure on, or potential growth is constrained by, existing infrastructure; and the local community is unable to respond in a timely way without assistance.

More details on the Tourism Infrastructure Fund can be found here.

Whenua Māori Fund

Purpose: Improving the performance and productivity of Māori freehold land. Targeted at collectives, & pre-commercial activity.

Total funding available per year: $3.2 million

More details on the Whenua Māori Fund can be found here.

Ka Hao: Māori Digital Development Fund

Purpose: Create high value jobs and opportunities that advance Māori in digital technologies through:
• Improving digital skills and pathways for Māori into digital technologies.
• Growing digital technologies businesses.
• Enhancing new Māori language and culture initiatives through digital technologies.

Total funding available: $30 million over six years from 2014/15

Frequency: Annual

More details on Ka Hao, the Māori Digital Development Fund, can be found here.

Regional Business Partner Network - Capability Vouchers

Purpose: Capability Vouchers – for business planning, systems, sustainability, capital raising, export, finance, governance, marketing etc.

Amount: Maximum of $5,000 per year per business with at least a 50 % contribution from applicant.

Frequency: On application to local regional business partner (check website for nearest to you)

More details on Capability Vouchers can be found here.

Sustainable Farming Fund

Purpose: The Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) funds 'communities of interest' to do applied research and extension projects that tackle a shared problem or develop a new opportunity.
The SFF invests in applied research and projects led by farmers, growers or foresters. Projects that meet the criteria should deliver economic, environmental and social benefits to New Zealand.

Amount: Maximum total grant available is $600,000 over three years. Or: up to $200,000 each year for a maximum of three years.

More details on the Sustainable Farming Fund can be found here.

Business Training and Advice Grant

A Business Training and Advice Grant helps people getting government assistance who want to start up their own business. It helps towards the cost of training and advice you need to start a business. You could also use it if you need the services of a business adviser.

Māori Women’s Development Inc

Māori Women's Development provide loans to Māori women and their whānau to enable and assist them to enter into and commence business and/or to expand and restructure their existing businesses.

Mātauranga Kura Taiao Fund

The Mātauranga Kura Taiao Fund seeks to preserve the customs, history and stories associated with Māori land and tikanga.

NZTE Capability Development Vouchers

NZTE Capability Development Vouchers are available to businesses to use as partial payment towards the cost of capability development and training in the following areas:

  • Business Planning
  • Business Systems
  • Business Sustainability
  • Capital Raising
  • Exporting
  • Finance
  • Governance
  • Lean Manufacturing/Business Operations
  • Managing Resources
  • Marketing.

Foundation North

Foundation North Places funding area aims to support projects that:

  • conserve our physical and natural environment
  • conserve our cultural heritage
  • support building and marae development projects that aim to strengthen community cohesion.

Callaghan Innovation R&D funding and support

A range of R&D grants to add scale, depth and return to your R&D investment. Our R&D grants are structured to meet your business needs - whether you're a young start-up, an established R&D performer, or want to bring students on board to assist in your R&D activities. When we know what you need, we connect you with the right funding to help your R&D get ahead
  • Getting Started Grants - Are you in the early stages of, or new to, R&D? A Getting Started Grant will give you a kick-start to help you take your product, process or service solution from development through to commercialisation.
  • Project Grants - Is your business new to, or trying to expand your R&D? A Project Grant can help you take on larger or more challenging R&D.
  • Growth Grants - Is your business an experienced R&D performer? This three year grant will help you increase your R&D investment.
  • Student Grants -  Do you want to increase your business’s R&D capability, or are you a student wanting to develop your technical skills in a commercial R&D environment? Our Student Grants are designed to support both New Zealand businesses and students.
  • R&D Experience Grants - Bring smart, enthusiastic and fresh thinking into your R&D activities with support provided by undergraduate students in the summer break before or after their final year of study..
  • R&D Career Grants - Add a PhD or Masters graduate to your R&D team to stimulate innovation.
  • R&D Fellowship Grants - Solve a challenging R&D problem in your business with PhD or Masters research.

Funding for Heritage Protection

There are various agencies including Heritage New Zealand which offer financial assistance for those who wish to protect and conserve heritage places.

Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund

The Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund supports events that commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and promote nation and community building. The fund aims to encourage a wider mix of communities to take part in Waitangi Day events.

The government is especially keen to support events organised by local government and/or communities in partnership with tangata whenua that invite wide community participation.

Regional Culture and Heritage Fund

The Regional Culture and Heritage Fund (RCHF) will benefit a wider range of cultural organisations throughout New Zealand: in the broader art gallery and museums sector (including iwi museums/whare taonga), the performing arts, and the heritage sector.

The RCHF’s focus will be on capital projects outside the main centres of Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Projects located in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch remain eligible for grant consideration and applications will be considered on a case by case basis.

The Icehouse

While most SMEs don’t rely on external funding in the same way as many startups do, funding is still an important business enabler. You might not be interested in raising capital but, to be able to successfully grow your business, you need to fully understand your financial situation and capital requirements and make informed decisions about the growth of the business.

Therefore, many of our growth programmes for SME cover different aspects of finance.

Enhanced Access Fund

The New Zealand Walking Access Commission administers a contestable fund to support projects aimed at enhancing access to New Zealand's great outdoors. This fund is known as the Enhanced Access Fund. Funding will be prioritised towards projects that help to secure certain and enduring access to the outdoors for future generations.

The main priority for funding is:

  • obtaining certain and enduring access; for example, the cost of negotiation to secure access agreements, legal or survey costs of obtaining access, the cost of obtaining Resource Management Act consents.

Other priorities, in descending order, are:

  • information including signs;
  • developing and improving walking opportunities through installing gates, stiles and fences and the cost of obtaining professional reports such as engineering reports; and
  • supporting community walking access projects, including infrastructure and administration. Funding of infrastructure including bridges and boardwalks is low priority.

Hospitality Training Trust

Do you have a great training idea you would like to see adopted in the hospitality sector? Or an outstanding trainee who would benefit from specific training?  Or a project related to hospitality training? The Hospitality Training Trust (HTT) was set up to encourage and support training in the sector. Funds are available for distribution to associations, companies or individuals for projects or ideas that will further the aims and criteria of the Trust around building excellence across the hospitality sector.

 

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