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maori-media-representation-blog · 8 years ago

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Maori representation in New Zealand tourism

New Zealand is a country with European and Maori people and lots of culture to offer. Tourism plays a big part in New Zealand, we rely on the growing and fluctuating population to keep our local businesses alive. New Zealand is well known for its greenery and scenic places and of course culture. We face a problem of Maori people and culture being shown in tourism in a way that is false to people living in New Zealand. In many areas of Maori culture the world is, in a way lied to about what goes on in the life of the Maori.

Maori people in tourism are portrayed as “Un-evolved” when in fact we coexist here in New Zealand, we live together in the cites not apart. An article found on the internet has a very interesting statement from the point of view travellers might have on Maori people. Aaryn Niuapu writer of the article says, “It seems, though, some have forgotten that after World War 2 there was mass urbanisation of Maori moving away from their stomping grounds and into the cities. Yet, in light of the past 60-odd years of urban migration, some people hold onto the 'ideal' that to be Maori is to be strongly tribal.” I think this statement fits the way Maori are shown in tourism, /maori people are always shown in the traditional outfits, such as The Piupiu skirt which is worn on special occasions such as welcoming new people onto land, Performances like Kapa Haka. These are not worn as casual wear. Maori face tattoos (Ta Moko) is seen a lot on New Zealand travel websites. Ta Mokos are not common in todays life as they are more than just a tattoo,To have a Ta Moko was a huge honour as it represented your status amongst your tribe and also used as a symbol of the responsibility in life. Taking all this into account this shows Maori as “old school” when in fact we all where the same clothes live in houses in cites where we are all apart of a community.

Stereotyping of Maori in tourism effects the image that they are trying to create for themselves. Instead of being looked at as kind and welcoming they are being portrayed as Un-evolved ‘cave men’ who are separated from the rest of New Zealand. Today, of the 4.4 million New Zealanders, approximately 69% are of European descent, 14.6% are indigenous Māori, 9.2% Asian and 6.9% non-Māori Pacific Islanders. From these statistics we are shown how much of the population are actually Maori, through tourism we are only shown one side of the culture we posses here in New Zealand, not all Maori’s cook in the ground and wear grass skirts, (id be surprised to see someone walking down the street in a grass skirt) The lack of true Maori culture in tourism is shocking, if Maori aren't shown as primitive they aren't shown at all. Its as if the Maori are on these sites to tick a box, to say that these website have shown Maori culture when in fact nothing reflects what it means to be Maori.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWOwe_n-2Gw The video above which is provided by 100% New Zealand, shows a Europeanised version of New Zealand. There is around three-seconds of footage showing Maori, cooking food underground which is called a Hangi. other than that its all about these two people traveling in luxury. Another video that focuses directly on Rotorua which was created by Expedia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv8mfsCZXRw In this Vedic we are given facts and insight about the Maori past of Rotorua and the culture that was and also what still remains. Though this Vedic isn’t an exact reflection on Maori in New Zealand but is taking the right step towards the best representation we can obtain. The Vedic is clear that the information they give us about Maori was in the past but is still available to learn about and see artefacts held in museums.

“The first thing to understand about Maori tourism is that theres no such things as Maori tourism. To being with, as far as Maori are concerned, “Tourism” is just a new word for an old practice - manaaki tanga, or mutual respect between host and visitor.” This was said by Steve sole in an article posted on New Zealand geographic. https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/maori-tourism/ An example of this would be in todays New Zealand society tourists are being charged between $106 and $125 to injure cultural experiences, which is very costly and would not have happened in the past as it is not the Maori way. Manaaki tanga is a Maori value including, respect, generosity and hospitality and the process it involves. Not to long ago in New Zealand this would have been shown in a way where Maori would have welcomed visitors and offered shelter and food and only expecting the same in return. This isn’t the way of New Zealand anymore, though that would be great New Zealand does need to be making money but should these experience be as expensive as they are? The prices of Maori culture being faked and re created is chasing away the tourists and stopping the world from learning the truth about how we live in little New Zealand.

Until tourism changes its view on the Maori culture in New Zealand many tourist will arrive in NZ from being dragged in by false advertisement. Not only just in tourism but in many other media forms Maori is depicted in an unfair and false way. For the future this needs to change. Maori culture should be something tourists are shown in their everyday life here in New Zealand. We should be showing the world the truth about the way we live together. Tourism is a bad reflection of what it means to be Maori, there is so much more we have to offer in our culture not just the grass skirts and food cooked by the thermal ground. New Zealand is filled with internal and external beauty, lets convey this in tourism for the many years to come.

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