The i-SITE Cultural Training Programme
A story shared is a story teller born
2008 saw the launch of a new national training initiative for New Zealand’s i-SITE Visitor Centre staff, designed to help tourists learn more about the Maori legends and legacies of our natural attractions.
“New Zealand’s i-SITE Visitor Centres are at the forefront of our tourism industry. They are often the first point of contact for visitors looking to experience our country,” says Kerry Marshall, Chair of the Visitor Information Network (VIN) at the recent i-SITE Conference.
“It is important that staff engage more with local Maori to understand their stories and be able to pass on that knowledge confidently to our visitors.”
The i-SITE Cultural Training Programme is a 2 day training course which revolves around understanding the local Maori community and the cultural experiences available in a region. I-SITE staff are welcomed onto a Marae with a powhiri, and are then led through a whakawhanaungatanga session (an opportunity to get to know the other attendees).
Following this session, a tour of local areas of cultural significance is taken, led by local kaumatua (elders) who share their stories, knowledge and traditions along the way. Staff then have the unique opportunity to stay on the Marae overnight, learning the pronunciation of Maori greetings, farewells and more local stories.
An i-SITE group outside Orakei Marae A powhiri welcomes i-SITE staff to the Marae
The next day, participants are tested on what they learnt the previous day. If successful, credits are awarded that can be put towards other ATTTO courses such as the National Certificate in Tourism and Travel (Core Skills) or the National Certificate in Business (First Line Management).
To date, courses have been held in Northland, Marlborough, Auckland and Turangi.
“We received a wonderful response from the participants in the programme,” says Doris Kaua, National Manager Cultural Awareness and Development at ATTTO. “The fact that local Māori lead the training makes this initiative something quite unique. We are not telling them all about Māori culture and stories, local Māori people are showing them. I-SITE staff are hearing the stories behind their local attractions first hand – enabling them to go on ands share that knowledge with visitors,” she says.
Sarah Morgan, a consultant at the Takapuna i-SITE Visitor Centre, was a participant at a workshop in Auckland. She admits she was a little apprehensive at first.
“It was a huge learning curve for me, but I soon felt like one of the whanau due to the warm and welcoming atmosphere on the Marae. Our tutors were brilliant at getting us to participate by creating a friendly, non-threatening atmosphere. It was also a real privilege to spend time at Orakei Marae, meeting so many inspiring people, hearing their amazing stories and learning from them.”