Kohutapu Lodge and Tribal Tours were awarded the most prestigious new award in the tourism industry. This small Māori-owned tourism business based in Murupara took home The Regenerative Tourism Award, provided by the Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA).
The TIA awards are dedicated to raising the profile of tourism in New Zealand as well as celebrating success and excellence by businesses. Individuals and organisations that recognise the values of the Tourism Sustainability Commitment are honoured for their dedication.
Rebecca Ingram, TIA Chief Executive, stated, “It was humbling to hear how Kohutapu Lodge works closely with its community to ensure the business is living and breathing regenerative tourism, from educating visitors about te ao Māori to ensuring the survival of the longfin tuna.”
Kohutapu Lodge was one of the forward-thinking tourism businesses that embraced kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of the environment, taking home their second award of the night, the Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust Community Engagement Award. Even after losing 98 percent of their business due to Covid, their team continued to focus on the community, which included opening two ventures and running soft skill courses for rangatahi.
Amongst the winners was John Barrett of Kapiti Island Nature Tours, who took home the Marsh Tourism Industry Champion Award, celebrating his dedication to championing eco-tourism.
The Sir Jack Newman Outstanding Industry Leader Award was given posthumously to Jeroen Jongejans, described as “a longtime campaigner for Northland tourism and Tutukaka Coast’s biggest cheerleader, a trailblazer and an entrepreneur.”
The Founder of Maverick Digital and co-Founder of Grow Tourism, Alex Dykman, won the PATA New Zealand Trust Emerging Leader Award. Dykman has become a ‘go-to’ person for all things digital within the industry and is an inspirational tourism leader, as described by the judges.
The Landing in the Bay of Islands won the Department of Conservation - Conservation Award. With their coastal property described as “extraordinary,” the judges were equally impressed by their planting of 1.25 million trees which was one of their progressive initiatives for sustainable practices.
iFly Indoor Skydiving NZ Ltd in Queenstown was awarded the Tourism Talent Employer of Choice Award. The judges stated, “Examples abound of an inclusive environment, happy staff, happy customers, and the passion and leadership shown by the owner who puts staff welfare above everything else.”
The Environment Award was given to East by West Ferries in Wellington following the launch of the Southern Hemisphere’s first zero-emission, fully electric, fast passenger ferry. Judges described it as a “low-intensity operation that screams ‘the future’.”
Regional Tourism New Zealand showed leading work in creating a more regenerative tourism system with their Te Ūnga Mai programme, winning them the Tourism New Zealand Industry Collaboration Award as they upskilled Regional Tourism Organisations.
The NZME Visitor Experience Award was given to the Hollyford Wilderness Experience for their excellent work coordinating with other tourism businesses to make Altitude Tours. The judges described them as “a proper tourism company – inspirational.”
Kapiti Island Nature Tours won the He Toa Takitini Māori Tourism Award. The judges expressed that the whānau involved embodied what is best about Māori tourism.
