Ki Te Hoe Waka Paddle Rotorua tourism - New Venture Launches today

Ki Te Hoe Waka Paddle Rotorua is a 1 ½ hr waka experience on Lake Rotorua, they take visitors in a 9m 14 seater waka taurua (double-hulled waka) from the Rotorua lakefront to the village of Ohinemutu, sharing waka culture and stories of the area.  Paddlers receive a health and safety briefing, paddle instruction using te reo commands, and the opportunity to learn more about the connection to waka, the ancestral lake Rotorua nui a kahumatamoemoe, and stories of the settlement of Rotorua, the village of Ohinemutu, and Ruapeka bay including the mouth of the Utuhina stream.  

This whanau owned business is running the experience alongside Te Runanga o Ngati Kea Ngati Tuara trust, which is one of the local iwi, from whom they rent the waka and equipment from.  This summer season is a trial for this new venture enabling them to refine the product offering and marketing approach, with a view to building a sustainable business within the next three years. This will put the business in a place where they have a sound market offering for when the Rotorua Lakefront development is completed.

The intention is to generate an income for the iwi, give visitors to Rotorua, both domestic and international, the opportunity to learn how to paddle a traditionally styled waka, and have a visible regular feature on the lake, as they were back in the operator’s tupuna’s days. 

For more information visit the venture’s website wakapaddlerotorua.co.nz where you will find much more information about the business.  There is also a booking function and as a launch special, they are offering free waka tours this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  People can just book online to secure a seat. 

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick is attending the ventures launch this morning at 8 30am, at the lakefront, where Eru George, our Ngati Kea Ngati Tuara chairman and kaumatua, will oversee the opening. 

Ends