About Us
WanaHaka® Tours
WanaHaka® has been operating wine tours and Māori welcomes in the beautiful Central Otago of New Zealand since 2016 (if we include from Australia it is 2008) and being Māori and raised in this part of the world with my great, great, great grandparents residing here in the late 1870's. We have an understanding and respect for the Tangata Whenua (people of the land) and want to share that personal and unique experience with YOU.
After spending 18 years in Brisbane and working in the health and fitness industry for 20+ years presenting internationally from developing children's fitness programs, presenting internationally for Les Mills Group Fitness, to senior management positions for Fitness First and YMCA it was time for me to re-connect with my culture and country and moved back home to Wānaka in 2015.
Over the last number of years I have reconnected with my culture through learning about my personal Māori footprint as well as doing courses with Te Wananga in Tikanga Māori and Te Reo, I am sharing my journey with you as we navigate into the future.
We have a LOVE for Wānaka but also its surrounding areas, as it is also where the Waitaha, Kai Tahu and Kati Mamoe who were the original people to make landfall in the South Island made their journey. At WanaHaka® we want to offer you the journey through our Māori footprint history combined with the wonderful award winning wines of the Wānaka, Queenstown and Cromwell region.
Our wine tours are unique as you are greeted with the official Māori greeting the Hōngi, connecting you physically to the people of the land.
The WanaHaka® Mihi Whakataū or 'Wānaka Welcome' is delivered as an educational experience breaking down Tikanga/Protocol from Māori to English so the manuhiri/guest leaves feeling educated and empowered. It involves a Wero/Challenge, Hōngi/Greeting and Haka/dance with a brief history of Māori into the Wānaka region and more importantly to provide you with a true, authentic experience of the Māori culture of New Zealand here in Wānaka and Central Otago.
Contemporary Māori culture has been shaped by the traditions of its rich cultural heritage, with an outward view of the challenges faced by indigenous peoples in a global society.
Our Wine tours connect the beautiful wineries around the Wānaka, Queenstown and Cromwell regions with 4 tour options from a 2.5/3 hr 'Express' option, to our Wine Tour & Māori Culture 5 hour option. We will connect you with the Māori history and people of the land so you get the COMPLETE experience.
At WanaHaka® Tours we believe "Culture is Connection", to get just photos of the land is not the true experience of travelling, connecting with the people of the land provides the authentic, human connection. Together both will make sure you have truely connected with New Zealand.
Our focus is to provide a wine experience and Māori culture experience that services YOU with exceptional experiences, superior service and inspiration that will create friends for life.
If you have any further questions or need more information please contact us at info@wanahaka.co.nz
We have made it very simple for you to conveniently use the "Book Online" link here on the website to secure your life changing New Zealand experience.