Visiually impaired group on Te Hoenga Waka!

CAN WE DO IT?

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.

Regardless of thier disablement they were able to listen to stories of the ancestors and landscapes. On one part of the Journey we stopped along the river where they could listen to all the varieties of birds, they could hear the Kanae (grey Mullet) splashing as they re-entered the water after their trademark leaping. We could hear the Tui calling wanting to talk to us while the song of the Pipiwhrauroa (shining cuckoo) singing in the background. We sat in silence on one part of the river where I told them it was called Haruru wairere which means rumbling or thunderous waters. I didnt need to give them the explanation of why it is called such a name as they worked it out for themselves when they could hear the cascading waters of the Haruru waterfalls in the distance then a few later we were right beneath the falls (see image) these things are only a small portion of what really did take place during the Tour yesterday. As a gesture of honor we decided to take them to our Marae where my family were waiting to meet them. Our (Maori) marae is only accessible by water and the Waka is the only vessel which we will permit to take visitors to our Marae. They were blown away by the sound of the challenge, the sounds of the traditional instruments, the calling of the Karanga, then to be taken into our small family meeting house with a dirt floor and palm leaf roof for a whakatau (speeches of welcome etc...) We made it clear to them that they had not purchased this part of thier Waka voyage and that this was only happening because we had chosen to take them to our Marae and not becasue they had purchased a Marae experience or Maori welcome. We told them that this part of the voyage was our gift to them, our way of honoring them for choosing to come and meet with us despite all the signpost pointing to other well known tourism activities. They knew right off it was something special when we told them they were experiencing our customs and traditions because we have chosen to share these with them as opposed to being obligated to do so due to them purchasing a Maori welcome. We told them that the Whakatau is given from the heart and not because it can be purchased at a visitor center or Isite and that if they wanted to buy a Maori welcome they can do so at many of the well known theme parks and MAori shows in New Zealand however on this tour thier money had paid for a seat on a Maori canoe and a 2-3 hour voyage with a couple of Maori story tellers. The whakatau or Traditional Maori Powhiri as referred to by most in the industry are our customs and these are not for sale. You know what? despite being blind I feel these people actually saw more and understood more than many who have no impairments at all so it was indeed an interesting experience and special journey for all of us.

THE EXPERIENCE

The Taiamai Family absolutely enjoyed this voyage for it showed us once again that our Tourism product is not about the Waka, the Marae, the river or the Bay of Islands and dare I say it isnt even about New Zealand. These people will not be able to take home with them, photographs of wonderful scenery and landscapes. pictures of majestic rugged snow capped mountains or crystal lakes and oceans however they will be able to take back to the USA with them visions of the people, and the culture, the spiritual experiences they had one day when they came to the Bay of Islands in Northland New Zealand and met with the people of Taiamai Tours of the tribe known as Ngapuhi!!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank Des Harris of Indigenous Trails and his support team from Te Renga Paraoa Tours in Whangarei for providing not only Taiamai but also the group of visually impaired from the USA for the wonderful and spiritual experience and cultural exchange enjoyed by us all who participated yesterday.

Thank you

Hone