Customer Reviews
Kia Ora! Joe is your best Maori tour guide for the region! He took me and my wife on an amazing wine tasting tour in 3 of the best vineyards of the area, 2 of which were completely private after the normal hours for visitors and had the pleasure to meet the producers, taste their wines, talk about their products etc. We even got to try a nice cheese platter in one if the wineries! Joe picked us up with his van and returned us almost one hour after schedule because we were having such a nice time and this was very kind of him because we had paid for a 2.5 hours tour but ended doing almost 3.5 hours! He explained everything about the Maori culture, how they got to that area, how they lived and how still young children learn the Maori culture in school! Finally I have to mention the excellent Haka performance of Joe and most importantly the explanation of step by step of the dance afterwards so we got to understand what this is really all about.
So overall, a simple Thank You is not enough and we hope we meet again in the future!
— Constantinos, Athens, Greece
I spent the day with Joe on a wonderful wine tour. Joe was really accommodating in opening up a new day for the tour to match when I was in Queenstown. Joe has a great relationship with the winery staff, and this resulted in a lovely day. Joe is very knowledgeable about wine, the local region and Maori culture. His traditional welcome and haka are a once in a lifetime experience. I’ve seen the haka many times at the rugby, but this is totally different and Joe does a great job of talking you through the traditional meaning of Maori traditions. This includes an explanation of the traditional story behind one of the local wines, which he was asked to personally launch last year. The wine was amazing (I came home with many bottles!), the landscape was amazing, and the company was amazing. By far the best wine tour I’ve ever been on. I’d go again for sure!
— Jeanelle, Brisbane
Joe一家非常热情好客,生活设施一应俱全。地理位置就是在市中心,出行非常便利。第二天早上,Joe还给我们在湖边表演了传统的Haka,并进行了讲解,颇为感动,为传播传统文化的匠人点赞。强烈推荐给即将到来Wanaka的朋友。Hello Joe: Thanks for your HAKA show for spread Maoli culture.You are Hero!!! Very great host!!!
— 胡, China
As soon as we met Joe the experience kicked right off. He explained the meaning and symbolism of various Maori customs, styles of dress, and history of the region. Joe is super knowledgeable and genuine. He is fun and informative and this experience was a great start to our trip. Thanks for everything Joe!
— Jessie, San Fransisco, USA
We had a wonderful day visiting fantastic vineyards with Joe Waide. He was the perfect guide, knowledgeable about the area and fun. It was wonderful to hear local legends and find out how they related to the wine we were tasting. The tour also included a delicious platter of local cheese and produce at one of our stops. It was a privilege to be given two Haka after we had visited our last tasting spot. Joe's Maori heritage made this wine tour a unique experience.
— Michelle, Manchester, UK
This is a one of a kind experience taking you into the local culture of the Māori people. Joe is very knowledgeable as you walk the grounds of the Māori hunting and settlements learning their customs and history. Recommend this over commercial experiences. Much more personal and individual experience..
— Cassidy, Massachusetts, USA
Loved the experience, really enjoyed the scenery and views. The winery day was fantastic.
— John Fyfe, Brisbane
The wine day was fantastic and the adventure day in Queenstown was sensational.
— Andrew Turner, Brisbane
Joe is very passionate about Maori culture. Joe's HAKA was very impressive!”
— Fei (China)
“Joe is s wonderful host! He has so much positive energy - it is really inspiring. He told us a lot about the Maori traditions and gave us more background about the famous Haka. So if you stay there you can save the money for any Maori culture show in Rotorua."
— Thorsten (Germany)
Joe gave me the haka and hongi welcome and farewell as well as history and culture introduction of the Maori. I couldn't have had such a great time in Wanaka without them, lucky me!
— CiCi (Singapore)
Introduced to the Maori tradition of Hongi and learnt the meaning of the Haka.
— Helen (London)
“Joe and Jo are fantastic hosts, very friendly and helpful. We also were very happy to learn more from them about New Zealand history and culture. Joe's Haka and Hongi were a highlight! Would strongly recommend. ”
— Zeinab (New Orleans, USA)
Joe和他的太太非常友善热情，因为我们不是自驾，Joe还开车带我们到PUZZING WORLD玩。房子地理位置很好，散步到湖边也就5分钟，而且房间非常干净，住的很舒服。离开时Joe还跳了毛利战舞为我们告别。总之这是一次很愉快的入住经历。
— 明轩 (China)
I was warmly greeted with a Hongi (a traditional Maori greeting) from Joe. They went above and beyond to help look up information on a few hiking trails I was interested in visiting to ensure that I would be safe and have a good experience. Joe is full of positive energy and introduced me to the Maori culture and even performed the impressive Haka dance! They made my stay very pleasant and memorable. Thanks Joe.
— Catrine (Denver, USA)
Straight from the start I knew it was going to be a great day. I had family visiting from Oz and we wanted something different and personal and Joe delivered the goods! To learn some of the Maori culture and with Joes knowledge of the area made this tour a standout from the rest. With a visit to 4 wineries (lost count of how many wines were tasted!!) and an amazing platter it was the best value for money. Its a big thumbs up from me!
— Kathy (Central Coast, Australia)
Māori Welcome Corporate Reviews
"We organise a lot of First Nations welcomes in Australia for all the events we produce and we all had to say that was one of the most wonderful experiences. Your energy, passion, humour and the education elements were in perfect balance. We all have a much deeper understanding of Maori culture."
– Fourth Wall, Sydney, Australia at QT Hotel, Queenstown
“Thank you for an amazing Māori welcome. Our team has only great words to say about the experience.”
– Cornetts and IGA Group, Australia at NZ High Country, Queenstown
“We were privileged to have Joe open our conference at
The Heritage, Queenstown with a traditional Māori welcome . He also spent time giving a moving explanation of the Haka and other elements of Māori tradition . It was a highlight of our day . I would thoroughly recommend Having joe work with you on your special event. Thanks joe”
– Sandoz, Australia at The Heritage, Queenstown
"We would like to extend our gratitude to Joe Waide (Māori tribal warrior) who’s presentation and cultural performance yesterday, were outstanding.
What better way to formally welcome our delegates and attendees (all Aussies) and to show our respect, our acknowledgment and admiration to the history, the heritage, to the Land, the culture and to the ancestry and people of Queenstown, via Joe’s ‘reception greeting’. Haere mai, ngā manuhiri tūārangi
And Joe performed his ‘traditional welcome greeting’ with passion, with pride, with dignity and with a great deal of enthusiasm. It also brought about a sense of complete respect for each of us during the ‘ceremony’ – including the acceptance and receiving the branch, the Hongi etc.
I was most impressed by this Hongi and ceremony and the commentary and feedback from our delegates has been extremely positive and ever-so respectful as well.
So, we extend our many thanks to Joe and wish him all the very best. It certainly created and enhanced the Opening Address and Welcome to Congress. We will have no hesitation to recommend him for future events and obviously, if we are to return to Q’town, we will seek him out again. "
– Mark Stephen, Managing Director, Civitas Services Australia
“Joe opened our international conference with an educational and inspirational Maori welcome on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. The feedback from all delegates was extremely positve. A very moving and professional expereience - thanks again Joe.”
– The People Hub, New Zealand
We very much enjoyed having Joe at our venue to officially welcome our wine club members to a reinvention of our brand. We were very honoured and excited to have this beautiful experience and education around the welcome.
– Akarua Wine Club Welcome
“Thank you for the warm Maori welcome you extended to iNova last week. The entire group really enjoyed your performance, it was informative and educational. We really appreciated how you paused to explain each part, many people mentioned this afterwards.
I really appreciated the explanation around the breath of life, I think it’s beautiful that you share this with your daughter each day and incorporate your culture in your life each day.
Thank you so much for your professionalism and putting on such a great Welcome.”
– iNova Pharmaceuticals Conference, Australia, The Hilton, Queenstown
"Easily a 5-star experience. Joe was great from beginning to end. Professional, personable and engaging. He read the room to perfection and delivered a great educational and entertaining session. His performance and chat were referenced several times during our conference over the following days. Definitely recommended.” -
Kane (Bacardi AU/NZ) at Crowne Plaza, Queenstown
"Joe was fantastic to work with and taught us all a bit about Māori culture in a lighthearted
and informative way. Such a great way to open our event. Thank you Joe!" -
Romy (Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Group-Australia) at Rydges, Queenstown