The small yet passionate team at Kohutapu Lodge and Tribal Tours in Murupara, has recently been honoured with the New Zealand Tourism Award for “Industry Collaboration and Alignment.”
The recognition not only is testament to their hard work but also a validation of their unique approach to tourism, which intertwines indigenous culture and regenerative practices.
Nadine Toe Toe, of Kohutapu Lodge and Tribal Tours says there is overwhelming pride in their accomplishments. “We are beyond proud that our Kaupapa has managed to have such cut-through, and is everything we knew it would be, and more,” she says. The team’s dedication to delivering a Global Indigenous & Regenerative Tourism campaign in just six months, and subsequently winning a New Zealand Tourism Award, is, simply unheard of.”
It’s a clear indicator that Kohutapu Lodge and Tribal Tours are on the right path. It’s more than just an award though; it’s a source of inspiration for the team to continue their campaign with even greater passion and greater goals.
Kohutapu Lodge and Tribal Tours is deeply rooted in the community. For over a decade, they have used tourism as a tool to give back to their community, particularly focusing on the youth. Nadine shays that their vision was to take the commercial cultural experience beyond the main centres, bringing it to the remote tribal lands of family. They aimed to create an authentic cultural product that offered a genuine insight into their heritage and future aspirations.
Their approach is based on real-life experiences, and this authenticity has been previously recognised. In 2019, they won a New Zealand Tourism Award for Community Engagement. However, with the onset of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns led to an innovative pivot. With the help of government funding, they transformed the lodge into a youth training facility. This shift allowed them to continue their mission of empowering their community’s children, turning what was initially an offering for international visitors into a asset for local youth.
As borders reopened, their commitment and innovation were once again rewarded. They won several tourism awards, including the supreme winner for the community category, highlighting their successful approach to regenerative tourism.
One of Nadine’s aspirations is to provide overseas experiences for the local youth, acknowledging the limited opportunities available to them due to the community’s low socioeconomic status. She believes travel is a powerful tool to open minds, break cycles, and inspire greatness.
“This is the mahi that fills my cup.” says Nadine.
Kohutapu Lodge and Tribal Tours show how tourism can be a force for good, blending cultural authenticity with community empowerment, and paving the way for a more inclusive and sustainable future in tourism.
