Thursday, June 25, 2009

Family promotion at Te Puia

Whānau Card entices families to Te Puia

With Matariki on the horizon, family are the main focus of Te Puia’s new promotion the Whānau Card.

For $35 NZD, 2 adults and 4 children have unlimited and unrestricted access into Te Puia for 12 months. The Whānau Card launch is timely for families in the current economic climate.

The card itself is lenticular which creates a very interesting 3D image which will definitely become a collector item.

Whānau Card holders will receive many other benefits at Te Puia including a discount off purchases from the Te Puia retail shop and Pohutu Café. Other partners such as Rotorua Top 10 Holiday Parks, Regal Palms City Resort and Millennium and Kingsgate Hotel have also come on board the Whānau Card with a discount.

The new Te Puia website also has a secure online Whānau Card purchasing facility.

For a full list of benefits and terms and conditions see http://www.tepuia.com/things-to-see-and-do/celebrate-matariki-with-te-puia.html?utm_source=blogspot&utm_medium=blogging_site&utm_content=blogs&utm_campaign=blogspot

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Te Puia offer support to families in need...

Te Puia and the Ronald McDonald House team up to support Whānau

$1 from every Whānau Card sold on Whānau Day this weekend will be donated to Rotorua’s Ronald McDonald House Charity.

Marketing Manager Kelly Stewart says the Whānau Card is a great way to support New Zealand families, “The Ronald McDonald House Charity is a good fit for Te Puia and our new Whānau Card being launched this Sunday [28th June].”

Whānau Card is a premier membership and promotion card exclusive to New Zealanders and gives unlimited entry to Te Puia for two adults and up to four children for $35 NZD.

The Whānau Card launch will coincide with Whānau Day, Sunday 28th June, and also marks Matariki – the theme being family.

Whānau Card buyers on the day will go into the draw to win the major prize of a night at the Duxton Hotel Okawa Bay, a City Ride with Helipro Rotorua and a boat cruise to Te Manupirua hotpools to be drawn at 3pm.

Whānau Day will be full of activities including a Tā Moko and Tāonga Puoro live exhibition, cultural performances and indigenous cuisine – free entry is open to all New Zealand residents.
http://www.tepuia.com/things-to-see-and-do/celebrate-matariki-with-te-puia.html?utm_source=blogspot&utm_medium=blogging_site&utm_content=blogs&utm_campaign=blogspot

Monday, June 15, 2009

Maori culture protected by offshore revenue

Tourism is the means, culture is the purpose

Te Puia Chief Executive Te Taru White says while revenue generated by tourism is important, it’s purpose is to breathe life into the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute.

“We [Te Puia] are legislatively mandated to the perpetuation of Māori Culture, we have a responsibility and commerce is a means to this end” says Mr White.

Although commerce has taken a decline due to the world economic downfall, the annual Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand Expo has shed a bit of light on the 2010 – 2011, forecast. Mr White says there’s no point in being gloomy, “We’re optimistic because the tourism industry has its ups and downs, it will go up we just have to maintain and be there when it does.”

Whilst visitors from Canada, Asia and the United Kingdom have taken a decline in numbers, United States of America visitation is up by around 12 per cent, the Australian market is up almost 40 per cent and tourists from South East Asia are up 44 per cent.

Te Taru White says sustaining relationships with declining markets is about riding out the slump, “Te Puia is in this for the long haul.”

Monday, June 1, 2009

Te Puia establishes link with Te Mahurehure

Uewhati now stands at Te Mahurehure Marae

Auckland-based descendents of Hokianga iwi, Te Mahurehure, now have their ancestor, Uewhati, depicted in a Pou (Column).

The Pou was commissioned by Te Mahurehure Cultural Marae Conference Centre standing 2.8 meters within the Point Chevalier complex. Head Carver, Te Taonui-a-Kupe Rickard describes illustrating Uewhati very interesting, especially when identifying the links between various tipuna.Te Mahurehure Chair Christine Panapa says a chance meeting with Mr Rickard while in Rotorua for other matters was the beginning of the process “there was a real connection, a wonderful connection. I had all the building plans in my car so I had a hui with him and his staff [Te Wānanga Whakairo Rakau, Te Puia] and talked about what we would like and went back and did the homework.”

The Marae was established in the 60’s for those of Te Mahurehure who had settled in Auckland.

Since taking over in 1999, Ms Panapa says the decade-long project has cost around $1.7 million dollars topped off with the Pou of Uewhati “We were so blown away when we saw it, it wasn’t what we had expected. It was stunning”.