News Archive

01/2009 - Te Puia turns up the heat for Australian journalists

Leading cultural tourism attraction, Te Puia turned up the heat with an extravaganza of entertainment, culture and cuisine for a group of visiting Australian travel writers.

Read more

19/09/2008 - Evening cultural experience relaunched

Te Puia, New Zealand’s iconic cultural institution is opening a new evening experience on the 18 September. The experience has been named Te Pō (the night) and promises to be ‘an immersive feast of indigenous cultural storytelling, entertainment and food’, according to Te Puia Chief Executive, Te Taru White.

Read more

08/09/2008 - Te Puia commitment as major sponsor to national kapahaka competition

The iconic cultural tourism centre, the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, Te Puia, announces its commitment as the Pounamu sponsor for the upcoming Te Matatini – national kapahaka competitions which will be held in Tauranga in February 2009.

Read more

28/08/2008 - Te Puia announces appointment of Sales Manager

New Zealand’s leading cultural tourism experience, Te Puia has appointed Patrick Tamati to the position of Sales Manager. Patrick is no newcomer to Te Puia having previously worked in a variety of roles at the iconic tourism experience over a 12-year period. Patrick’s former roles with Te Puia include guiding to marketing. A trained primary school teacher, Patrick has also worked in the education area of Te Puia when it was known at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute.

Read more

01/07/2008 - Te Puia design wins at Property Council New Zealand Awards

The redevelopment of New Zealand’s most established cultural tourism attraction has taken out the top award in the Tourism and Leisure Property category at the 2008 Property Council New Zealand Awards.

Read more

30/01/2008 - Great Waitangi Day welcome for New Zealanders

Te Puia, New Zealand’s leading cultural tourism attraction incorporating the New Zealand Māori Arts & Crafts Institute and Te Whakarewarewa thermal reserve is throwing open its doors to New Zealanders this Waitangi Day at a fraction of its usual entrance fee.

Read more

05/12/2007 - Te Puia design scoops supreme award

Te Puia’s multi million dollar redevelopment recently took line honours for architect Harry Street of Creative Spaces at the New Zealand Timber Design Awards.

Read more

26/11/2007 - Carvings make journey home

Students and tutors of Te Wananga Whakairo o Aotearoa at the New Zealand Māori Arts & Crafts Institute, (Te Puia), have for the past three months been engaged in carving a series of culturally significant pieces for the Wharekawa Marae, on the Firth of Thames.

Read more

27/09/2007 - Leading cultural tourism attraction receives international recognition for e-content & creativity

New Zealand’s leading and longest running cultural tourism attraction, Te Puia has awarded the much coveted ‘e-culture’ award at the World Summit Awards (WSA) which recognise e-content & creativity in organisations around the world.

Read more

24/05/2007 - Chief Executive announcement

Robert Macfarlane Former Chairman of the Te Puia Board announced today the appointment of Te Taru White as the new Chief Executive of Te Puia.

Read more

11/05/2007 - New development officially opened 11 May 2007

An official opening took place on 11th May to recognise the completion of the major site re-development work that has taken place at Te Puia.

Read more

World class experience in cultural tourism opened

Today Te Puia celebrated the opening of its most ambitious development project since it first opened to visitors 44 years ago. The new facilities, named Te Tawharau o Te Ao Turoa will treat visitors to a world class experience, through leading edge technology, by bringing alive the myths and legends of the Whakarewarewa geothermal valley and its ancestors.

Read more

01/12/2006 - New high-tech Te Puia experience opens

New Zealand’s leading cultural attraction, Te Puia is nearing completion of a NZ$17.5m self funded redevelopment programme which promises to elevate the visitors experience of this historically and culturally significant site.

Read more

23/11/2006 - NZ$17.5 self-funded tourism project on time & under budget

New Zealand’s leading cultural tourism experience, Te Puia is readying itself to showcase an enhanced visitor offering which will include a high-spec interactive experience using leading edge tourism technologies along with a spectacular new building Nga Waru Pu Manawa ,(eight beating hearts of Te Arawa) which contains a number of physical and cultural elements believed to be a first not only for New Zealand but the world.

Read more

13/08/2006 - Te Puia reveals new Māori cultural experiences

Te Puia, one of New Zealand’s most visited tourist attractions, has launched a range of new cultural experiences at Te Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley in Rotorua.

Read more

13/08/2006 - Famous Bird woman takes flight again!

One of Te Arawa’s most famous ancestors, the legendary Bird woman Kurungaituku, takes flight again, this time hovering over the new main entrance way to Rotorua’s largest tourist attraction, Te Puia, formerly the NZ Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, in the Whakarewarewa geothermal reserve.

Read more

Passenger numbers continue to climb

Jump in international visitor arrivals and solid growth across all major inbound markets 'positive for tourism'.

Read more

Domestic tourism market up after poor years

Spending in the billion dollar domestic tourism market is up after two years of decline - but most of the increase is being driven by fuel costs.

Read more

Beyond the haka for World Cup Rugby fans

Te Puia, one of New Zealand's most visited paid tourist attractions, is celebrating the NZRU's successful Rugby World Cup bid for 2011 to bring the event to New Zealand soil.

Read more

Cultures combine in San Francisco

In August 2005, Māori art met America as a Māori culture group performed alongside California's native Ohlone tribe in San Francisco.

Read more