A Bay of Islands Maori cultural tourism business has featured in the world's 50 top "Tours of a Lifetime" in National Geographic Traveller magazine.Paihia-based Taiamai Tours offers waka rides where visitors become warrior paddlers in a 15-plus metre replica canoe.Owner Hone Mihaka says he's "over the moon" at the high profile recognition of the business he said offers customers an experience, not a "product"."Basically, they are paying for a seat on a waka. Everything else that happens is extra. That is when it crosses over to us sharing our lifestyle with them."An article featuring Taiamai waka tours also appears in the same issue as Traveller magazine's "Tours of a Lifetime".
What a fantastic experience had by all who were a part of the Waitangi Waka celebrations held on the Waitangi waters and beaches this year on the 6th of February. In the early hours of the morning on the 6th of february (Waitangi Day) New Zealands most historical day the Waka fleet consisting up to 10 fully manned Waka of varying sizes from all over the Northland area began to stir the waters of Waitangi. The sound of chanting and the beat of the Maori Warrior could be echoing over the calm Waitangi waters of the inner Bay of Islands. Sillouetted against a morning easterly sunrise one could see the Waka of local tribal chief and elder Hone Mihaka with his hearty crew of Taiamai descendants piercing the surface of the waters with their long finely shaped paddles as they headed towards the beach of Te Tii Marae where gathered were over 15000 spectators and visitors from all around. What a site.
From: Gee, Karen (JOD) [mailto:Karen.Gee@jod.uk.com] Sent: Thursday, 4 February 2010 12:01 a.m.To: Bay of Islands Waka ToursSubject: Feedback on your visit to Journeys of Distinction
From the Bay of Islands on Northlands east coast to Hokianga on the west coast, New Zealand’s largest indigenous tribe numbering upwards of 100.000 is made up of over 100 smaller independent Hapu (clans) who collectively constitute a tribal confederation now called Ngapuhi nui tonu. In the late 18th century the eastern grouping of Hapu, in particular the Taiamai, Waimate and Bay of Islands Ngapuhi were the first hapu to establish trading links with the earliest European traders to these shores. They would also be instrumental in securing international recognition for all tribes of New Zealand by calling on all international communities to acknowledge the sovereignty and independence of these Islands and its indigenous peoples hence the Declaration of Independence on the 28th of October 1835.
Yesterday we had our very first group of visually impaired customers aboard our Waka Voyage "TE HOENGA WAKA" All I can say is that they reckon the Waka voyage was the best experience they had while in New Zealand. The key message being the experience.
