Maori Culture and Tourists

Te Ao Hou, March 1964, Page 2

Maori Culture and Tourists The Editor, ‘Te Ao Hou’. The Government and others are clamouring for increased efforts to attract more tourists. They are even establishing a Maori Cultural Centre at Rotorua. While this is admirable I hope the emphasis is on culture and not on tourist attraction. Tourism today means the amount of money that tourists bring into New Zealand and interested parties are not ashamed to admit it. This terrible attitude frightens away the genuine tourist. They are asked to come to see the scenery, the thermal attractions and the Maoris as though we were some freak phenomenon. Doesn't anyone want to see the Pakeha Monster? To me tourism means the increasing of opportunities for overseas visitors to meet, know and understand us New Zealanders. Consequently I cannot see why Maoris, especially in Rotorua, should be solely responsible for cultural entertainment. Are Pakehas so devoid of culture that they cannot hold up their own end of the stick? It is those tourists who are interested in us rather than in mud pools that we should welcome, and we on our part should confine our interests to their hearts and minds and not their wallets. ATIHANA JOHNS (Atiamuri)