NZ Māori Tourism acknowledges the tremendous contribution made by outgoing Tourism Minister Hon Kelvin Davis (Ngāti Manu), to the Aotearoa New Zealand tourism industry.
Since coming into office in 2017 as the Minister of Tourism, Minister Davis has been key in uplifting and future proofing tourism as well as bringing forward a strong Māori world view through several initiatives including, but not limited to:
- establishing the Responsible Camping Working Group to develop solutions for Aotearoa New Zealand’s freedom camping woes;
- leading the country’s China New Zealand Year of Tourism to strengthen cultural, economic and people-to-people ties through tourism;
- launching the Tiaki – Care for New Zealand industry-led initiative to remind travellers of their responsibilities as guests;
- introducing the International Visitor Levy to put resources back into the communities and environment, and,
- launching the Aotearoa New Zealand Government Tourism Strategy to enrich Aotearoa New Zealand through sustainable tourism growth.
Minister Davis worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure tourism and business owners pulled through one of the biggest blows the tourism industry has ever faced.
During the Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme, the Minister ensured that funding was equitably shared amongst applicants, and that Māori applicants were well represented at the table.
Māori tourism, as a sector, was extremely fortunate to have such a gracious leader that understood and campaigned for the needs of his constituents.
"We are grateful for Minister Davis’s leadership and dedication, and wish him all the best in his new role as Minister for Children and continuing his other responsibilities as Minister for MƒÅori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti, Minister for Corrections and Associate Minister of Education (MƒÅori Education)," says a statement from NZ MƒÅori Tourism.
NZ Māori Tourism looks forward to working with the incoming Tourism Minister Hon Stuart Nash.
