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A blast of dragon's breath will be heating up Rewi Spraggon's hangi stones in future.
Tāmaki Makaurau's hangi master has won New Zealand Māori Tourism's $20,000 Wow Us award in a Dragon's Den event at Tuahiwi Marae in Otautahi last night.
He also won the $10,000 Small Māori Tourism Business with a Big Idea prize.
Four other aspiring Māori tourism experiences also took home $10,000 prizes.
Mr Spraggon plans to expand his harbourside restaurant business by developing a mobile hangi that can be used at markets and events.
He also wants to educate rangatahi with ancient cooking techniques, provide visitors with more insights into Māori tikanga and spread manaakitanga around the world.
Nadine and Karl Toetoe, Koro Carman, and James Brown won the Journeys of Aotearoa through Maori Tourism category with their plan to link up three ancient forest experiences: Northland's Footprints Waipoua with Tane Mahuta, Te Haerenga Guided Walks on Rangitoto Island featuring New Zealand's largest Pohutukawa Forest, and Whirinaki Forest in the Central North Island.
And the New Zealand Māori Tourism board decided to give a putea to all three wāhine finalists in the Bring Your Idea to Life category: Tūmai Communications' Victoria Campbell for her concept of a Māori star gazing experience in central Otago, Te Koharaki Mason who wants to start a sea to source jetboat experience up the Hokitika Gorge, and Jessie Thatcher who wants to bring visitors to Tolaga Bay for a catch your own crayfish, fishing and cuisine experience incorporating local history and tikanga.
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