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Maunga Hikurangi Tours at eXplore and TRENZ 2026
Maunga Hikurangi Tours attended both the eXplore Expo and TRENZ 2026 in Tāmaki Makaurau as part of the Tairāwhiti Gisborne tourism delegation, connecting with tourism operators, industry leaders, and international travel buyers to showcase the unique experiences of Te Tairāwhiti and Maunga Hikurangi.
eXplore provided valuable networking opportunities with regional tourism operators and workshops focused on emerging marketing trends and visitor engagement, helping strengthen industry relationships and build further awareness of the cultural experiences available in the region.
At TRENZ, New Zealand’s largest international tourism business event, Maunga Hikurangi Tours met face-to-face with international buyers over three days to showcase the stories, landscapes, and cultural experiences of the East Coast. The event was an important opportunity to reinforce the reliability, quality, and longevity of the Maunga Hikurangi experience, while also allowing buyers to connect with Tour Manager Monty Manuel, whose charisma, passion, and storytelling help bring the authentic East Coast experience to life. Buyers showed strong interest in “First Light” experiences and immersive off-the-beaten-track cultural tourism, highlighting the growing international demand for authentic Māori and regional experiences.
Agents showed strong interest in “First Light” experiences and immersive off-the-beaten-track cultural tourism, highlighting the growing international demand for authentic Māori and regional experiences.
Shining a Light on Health and Safety Excellence
We’re incredibly proud to share that our Health, Safety and Environmental Manager, Jessie Bourke, has been named a finalist in the 2026 Safeguard New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards for Health and Safety Practitioner of the Year. This recognition reflects the dedication, care and hard work Jessie brings to Nāti Growth every day, championing safe and healthy workplaces across our organisation and communities. Congratulations Jessie on this well-deserved achievement — we’ll be cheering you on at the awards in June.
Pakihiroa Farms well Prepared for Winter
Pakihiroa farms are preparing for winter now as pasture growth rates slow and the days get shorter. With all stock and pastures in great condition, both farms are well set up for winter’s colder months. Cows have been weaned and scanned in calf, cattle stock count completed and preparation for second shear is under way on Makarika.
Pakihiroa Station hosted a farm discussion group last month inviting other whenua Māori stations to tour the farm and discuss our farm systems and opportunities for improving what we do. It was a credit to the manager Ants that the comments and feedback from the day were so positive.
On another positive note, the Pakihiroa farms team have welcomed Lochie Donald as a shepherd on Pakihiroa Station, Lochie joins us from Ngamatea, and we look forward to working with him as he gets to know the land under Maunga Hikurangi.
From Singapore to Europe: Te Ihi's Global Journey Continues
Te Ihi has been on the move, building strong international momentum following a successful showcase at FHA Singapore, one of Asia’s leading food and hospitality events. A standout moment was the visit from New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay, who stopped by the Te Ihi stand to chat about the brand’s global ambitions and the growing appetite for premium New Zealand wellness products.
While in Singapore, the team made great progress with key distribution partners as part of entering the local market. These conversations are an exciting step toward establishing a foothold in Southeast Asia, with plenty of wider regional opportunities now coming into view.
From there, it was straight on to Vitafoods Europe, a global hub for nutraceuticals and wellness innovation. Te Ihi’s range was met with strong interest, with visitors eager to learn more about the brand and its offering. The event has helped open the door to Europe, with several promising opportunities already on the radar.
All in all, it’s been a busy and rewarding few weeks, with Te Ihi continuing to grow its presence across both Asian and European markets.
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