Māori Tourism chair Dale Stephens says other indigenous tourism groups are keen to learn lessons from Aotearoa.

Mr Stephens was a speaker at last week’s World Indigenous Tourism Conference in Perth, which drew 500 delegates from around the world.

He says New Zealand Māori Tourism set itself up to not to market tourism ventures but to build capacity in the sector and ensure it complements the mainstream industry.

He says many groups also face challenges Māori have worked their way through, such as governments and tourism operators telling indigenous stories that are not correct.

“These entities and nations are wanting help with how to get their stories corrected, to bring the proper approach to dealing with indigenous groups in these parts of the world. So for us to be able to lend a hand, to show them how we have approached this and the king of success we have had in getting our story heard and getting an appreciation for what Māori bring to the sector, has been really important,” Mr Stephens says.

Māori Tourism was also able to share case studies such as Murupara’s Kohutapu Lodge, which shows how ventures can engage and strengthen their communities.

He says