A pathway has been charted for Ngāti Pakihi descendants to return to their whenua (land) not just as stewards, but as leaders of a sustainable tourism future — ensuring the spirit of Te Maara a Te Atua continues to thrive for generations to come.
— New Zealand —
renewal. resilience. stewardship
Reviving a National Treasure: Unlocking the Tourism Potential of Te Maara a Te Atua at Lake Waikaremoana
"Tourism creates a wide range of employment opportunities for local communities, improves local infrastructure, and helps preserve and revitalize the cultural and historical heritage of a country."
— Tourism Infrastructure Fund Feasibility Study, 2020
Challenge
Te Maara a Te Atua, a pristine 20-hectare property on the shores of Lake Waikaremoana, represents one of the few remaining parcels of land in the region not held under joint Māori and Crown management. Steeped in history and spiritual significance, this reserve embodies the ancestral home of Ngāti Pakihi hapū of Ruapani Ki Waikaremoana. However, despite its profound heritage and breathtaking natural setting, the land has remained largely undeveloped.
The region faces serious barriers to unlocking its tourism potential: poor road access, minimal electrification, lack of telecommunications infrastructure, and limited public amenities. These constraints have left Lake Waikaremoana — once a crown jewel of New Zealand tourism — isolated from the surge in national and international visitor growth. With traditional industries in the area declining and youth migration increasing, the urgency to create sustainable economic opportunities for local communities has never been greater. Without intervention, both the ecological richness and the cultural legacy of Te Maara a Te Atua risk being lost.
Strategy
Recognizing the opportunity, the Trustees of Te Maara a Te Atua Reserve partnered with GG International through the Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF) to commission a comprehensive feasibility study. GG International adopted a multi-dimensional strategy, incorporating:
- Holistic Tourism Visioning: Collaborating with iwi members, community stakeholders, and the Department of Conservation to ensure that future tourism development honors environmental guardianship (kaitiakitanga), cultural revitalization, and community prosperity.
- Infrastructure Assessment: Conducting an in-depth review of roading, communication, waste management, energy supply, and disaster response capabilities, while benchmarking against comparable regional tourism hubs.
- Sustainable Development Modeling: Proposing eco-tourism initiatives that blend low-impact visitor experiences with educational, cultural, and environmental stewardship programs — ensuring that growth does not undermine the area's unique character.
- Strategic Policy Alignment: Positioning the project to align with the Government’s broader Tourism Strategy, including strengthening regional economies, fostering local employment, and promoting inclusive, resilient tourism growth.
By blending participatory planning, infrastructure feasibility, and cultural stewardship, the project sets a foundation for developing a tourism offering that is authentic, sustainable, and transformational.
Transformation
The feasibility study concluded that, despite infrastructure challenges, Te Maara a Te Atua holds immense untapped potential to become a flagship eco-cultural tourism destination. With targeted investment, improved road access, sustainable infrastructure solutions (such as solar electrification and composting waste systems), and a comprehensive tourism development plan, the Reserve can drive local employment, attract high-value domestic and international visitors, and reawaken its proud tourism legacy.
GG International’s work has positioned Te Maara a Te Atua Reserve to leverage national government support, regional collaboration, and private investment opportunities.