April 06, 2017
Whakaari deal for Ngati Awa
Eastern Bay of Plenty iwi Ngati Awa is keen to incorporate its new White Island Tour business with other tribally-owned businesses in its rohe.
Ngati Awa Group Holdings has reached an unconditional agreement to buy the 25-year-old business from its founders Peter and Jenny Tait.
Chief executive Geoff Hamilton says the deal includes exclusive rights to land boats on Whakaari-White Island, a 38-room motel complex with villa, bungalow and micro-village, and the PeeJays cafe.
He says the company approached the Taits after assessing the tribe’s assets and realising the importance of the tour business to the area.
He says as well as earning a financial return, the iwi is keen to merge cultural experiences together into something more compelling for visitors.
White Island Tours employs 31 people year round and an additions 20 or so during the peak summer period.
Last year it took more than 17,000 visitors to the active volcano.
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