Experience authentic Māori culture at your next conference in Aotearoa
Brought to you by Tourism New Zealand
Are you looking for the opportunity to be innovative and curious at your next conference? To build relationships based on respect, and care for people and the planet? Choose a conference destination with values that align with yours.
New Zealand has distinguished the core values that collectively underpin its offering to the world.
Four concepts from New Zealand’s indigenous Māori culture were chosen by New Zealanders across the public and private sector as best representing the country’s values (Ngā Mātāpono):
- pōtikitanga (curiosity, innovation, and ingenuity),
- tiaki (care and protection for people, place, and planet),
- manaaki (warm welcome and building relationships based on respect and reciprocity),
- pono (acting with integrity, honesty, transparency).
Tourism New Zealand’s global manager, business events, Penelope Ryan says: “These values form the foundation of New Zealand’s unique offering for conferences and events.
“The value in conferences lies in the ability to bring people together to build authentic relationships, share knowledge in the spirit of reciprocity, and spark new ideas and solutions for the future.”
Genuine engagement
There are increasing moves to integrate Māori culture into New Zealand conference programmes as a way to facilitate deeper connection, from bringing people together with a traditional pōwhiri welcome, to engaging Māori speakers and including Māori representation on the Local Organising Committee.
Sandra Julian, senior business development manager at PCO Arinex and founder of Auaha notes: “These are important elements, but authentic engagement demands more than ticking checklists. It requires a thoughtful understanding of your organisation’s cultural competency.
“Understanding the local whenua (land) and its people, and integrating this into your event, adds depth and significance,” Julian adds. “As this whakataukī (Māori proverb) reminds us:
‘He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata – What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.’
“If your organisation is at the beginning of this journey, consultation with Māori advisors or kaumātua (elders) is key. By fostering respectful relationships and tailoring your engagement to reflect your organisation’s cultural capability, you create richer, more engaging event experiences.”
Indigenous ingenuity
International conferences are also finding innovative content in Te Ao Māori. Hei Āhuru Mōwai Māori Cancer Leadership Aotearoa will host the World Indigenous Cancer Conference in Rotorua in 2026, welcoming 600 health professionals from around the globe.
Hei Āhuru Mōwai chief executive Gary Thompson says: “Aotearoa New Zealand has a wealth of knowledge to share in indigenous cancer care, including Māori providers delivering hauora services. Hauora, our Māori view of health, embraces the physical, mental, social, and spiritual dimensions of well-being, placing whānau (family) at the heart of care. This holistic approach ensures that hospital cancer services and community providers are seamlessly connected to improve outcomes for our people. Through this conference, we aim to share these innovations with other Indigenous nations while learning from their experiences to foster mutual growth and collaboration.
“This conference is about solutions – turning these disparities around and empowering Indigenous communities worldwide. We aim to build a strong international network of Indigenous cancer leadership and formalise our collective efforts through the WICC.
“This is a unique opportunity to showcase the incredible work we’re doing here, while sharing our culture and stories with the world.”
Are you interested in a conference destination that values your values? Find out more about organising your next event in New Zealand.
Contact:
Sherylee Eyles
Tourism New Zealand
Business Development Manager
Sherylee.Eyles@tnz.govt.nz
M +64 21 995402
