Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

More to indigenous tour guiding than most realise

Updated at 7:30 pm on 11 November 2011

A Maori tourism researcher says there is more to indigenous tour guiding than most people realise.

Trisha Dwyer, a masters student in tourism management from Victoria University of Wellington, has interviewed guides who cater for tourists wanting to learn more about Maori heritage and customs.

Ms Dwyer says tour guides have to balance their presentation, communicating in a way tourists can understand while avoiding undermining their message by being too simplistic.

She says guides have to deal with tourists ranging from those with limited understanding of Te Reo and English, to people who have already researched Maori history, as well as people who have preconceived stereotypes about Maori. Each needs to be handled in a different way.

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