Business news and ventures of our whanaunga

Waka brings authentic Maori experience to Christchurch

Katoro Maori Tours is taking up the challenge to deliver an exciting and authentic indigenous experience in the South Island with the launch of Te Kowhai, the first purpose-designed waka for the Christchurch and Canterbury visitor industry.

The Brennan family of Ko Tane Maori Experience at Willowbank are behind the new venture. They spotted a gap in the market after participating in the opening of MEETINGS 2006 at Clearwater Resort, an event managed and organised by Christchurch & Canterbury Convention Bureau.

Having successfully launched to the conference and incentive market earlier this year, Katoro Maori Tours brings Te Kowhai to leisure visitors on 1 November. The waka will be based on the Styx river - Purakaunui - near Willowbank and Clearwater resort, 15 minutes north of the city centre and seven minutes from Christchurch International Airport.

Now visitors can relive some of the experience of early South Island Maori whose lives depended on getting up and down the waterways of Christchurch in their %u2FFFpunting wakas%u2FFF called mokihi.

Te Kowhai gives visitors to Canterbury the chance to learn about the important Maori and pakeha cultures, Katoro directors Dave Brennan, his brother James and nephew Aoraki. Will share the distinctive history of Ngai Tahu people and early European settlements and the way both cultures used the waka in pre and post European era. Visitors will then climb aboard for a paddle along the Styx river %u2FFF Purakaunui where they can live out an authentic Maori activity and observe and learn about the delicate eco-system that exists at Styx river %u2FFF Purakaunui.

Dave Brennan and his family manage the hugely popular Ko Tane, Maori Cultural Experience at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve and are leaders in the Maori Tourism industry. The Brennan family are members of Ngai Tahu and their tribal heritage is clearly reflected in the waka experience.

Before Europeans settled in the area, the Purakaunui and its tributaries were surrounded by extensive wetlands and sand dunes teaming with birdlife, native eels and insects. There was also a possible tributary link to the much larger Waimakariri River which Maori accessed via their mokihi waka.

"Those on board our waka work together as a team. They eat together, share together, and paddle together. We take them on a journey literally, physically, and spiritually," Dave says.

"The waka is a huge feature in Maori heritage and culture and is the perfect vehicle for visitors to learn about pre-European Maori life," he says.

www.katoro.co.nz

THANKS TO DAVE BRENNAN FOR SUBMITTING THIS STORY

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Rex (Paddy) Redden and business partners, have imported the first Cage, to be used for cage fighting which is a new sport to New Zealand, and are holding the first tournament in NZ this Friday 13th July at the Lower Hutt town hall.

Maori television are sending a film crew to this event and this will give them much needed publicity.

For those of you who don't know Rex, he is the grandson of Donald and Lois Timihou , Donny being the eldest son of Flo and Ratema Te Kowhai. He also runs a large kickboxing gym in Porirua and was a world champion kickboxer himself. His cellphone number is 021 190 1557, so please feel free to contact Rex and let him know who you are and that you are whanau.

THANKS TO LAUREN TIMIHOU-FARNSWORTH FOR SUBMITTING THIS STORY