New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute becomes Te Puia
Richard
Rising from the geothermal valley above, mud pools and steam vents is
Te Puia. Once a pallisaded fortress, Te Puia protected the people and
its culture from warring tribes. Today Te Puia stands majestic of a way
of life upholding the values of Maori - past, present and future.
Forty one years of being The New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts
Institute has come to an end for one of Aotearoa's iconic Maori
cultural operations.
Te Puia - Rotorua new ZealandFrom now on, the institute will be known
as Te Puia, recognising the hill behind the famous Pohutu, the
world's most accessible geyser. Te Puia has always been a place of
sanctuary and its new name - translated as geyser, or geothermal - will
now be used in association with the protection of traditional Maori
arts, crafts and culture.
But Te Puia will be more than a name for the most popular cultural
tourism visitor attraction in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The rebranding signals the start of a campaign aimed at focussing
attention on the three distinctively different, but complimentary,
visitor experiences within Rotorua's Whakarewarewa valley.
The sub-brands which will sit under Te Puia involve the culture, the
geothermal and the institute's arts and crafts.
Te Puia chief executive Andrew Te Whaiti says the geothermal valley and
cultural experiences on offer at Te Puia are the biggest drawcard for
visitors, 600,000 of whom visit the attraction each year.
However research has shown that not all international visitors are
interested in both. Those nationalities who have extensive cultural
backgrounds often visit to see the geothermal features, including the
Pohutu geyser.
But others, especially British visitors, are fascinated by the Maori
culture. Andrew says that by separating the three aspects of Te Puia,
the organisation can market itself more appropriately to the different
international markets.
In that regard, a roll-out of the new branding will take place
progressively in Australia, North America, Britain, Europe and Japan.
But despite the rebranding, Andrew is emphatic that the original name
of the country's most visited Maori cultural attraction will not be
lost altogether.
"By separating the carving and weaving schools from the other
attractions - while retaining the The New Zealand Maori Arts and Craft
Institute name - we have clearly positioned it as a school of higher
learning," he says.
In fact Te Puia's re-development plan calls for the expansion of the
working place for the carving and weaving schools and a new exhibition
gallery.
David
'penny divers'. However tourism has brought in some wealth and kept many
families
in tuckers.
The tikanga of Te Arawa is as strong as any iwi. Howard Morrison is a famous
popular singer.
However on the topic of Te Arawa History and culture he is as staunch as
any.
Our country will always a quality sought after tourist destination- because
of the quality of
presentation- with nga mea rongonui and the arts and crafts themselves.
-D
"Richard" <richa...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1122849390.5...@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...