Wednesday, November 15, 2006

The Examination Specification for 2006 states that, “Candidates will be required to demonstrate an understanding of the Maori concept of Manaakitanga.”

In the Waitomo Caves area manaakitanga is fundamental concept underpinning the way in which the people of our community relate to each other, host visitors to the community and the care for our environment, above and below the ground.

Josephine Anderson (Kuia, Ngati Maniapoto) defines the concept as: “Manaakitanga is both a responsibility and a desire to care for people and the environment. We demonstrate Manaakitanga in the way we extend hospitality to our guests ensuring they feel safe, comfortable and welcome, the way we come together as a community to support and help each other and in our kaitiakitanga [guardianship] of the land and its taonga [treasures]. ”

Key points:

Manaakitanga is a desire to:

· Care for one another within our community of 300 people
· Care for and welcome our half a million visitors each year
· Care for our environment including the land, water, caves, flora and fauna of the area
· Care for and maintain our living and non-living treasures, beliefs ideas, stories and traditions

Manaakitanga implies the host has a responsibility to provide guardianship:

· of the land (Whenua)
· of treasures (Taaonga)
· of visitors (Manuwhiri)
· of people (Tangata)

Manaakitanga is a deep rooted concept that recognises and celebrates kinship between:

· all peoples, past present and future
· people and the environment
· people and taonga






Some ways in which the Waitomo Caves community demonstrate Manaakitanga include:

· Caring for the physical and cultural safety of others by
o presenting attractions/activities, accommodation, food, transport and amenities that are tailored to the needs and abilities of the individual visitor
o informing visitors about the area, what to expect and where to get help and support if needed
o ensuring visitor areas are ‘noa’ – free from tapu or any other restrictions
o providing safe drinking water, sewerage and rubbish disposal systems and emergency services
o maintaining high levels of employment and educational opportunities for community members
· Extending hospitality to others by
o presenting high levels of service and quality
o sharing our taonga and whenua
o respecting and tolerating others’ ideas and beliefs
· Caring for our taonga and whenua
o Interpretation and conservation of the landscape and local taonga through the Waitomo Museum of Caves, education programmes, interpretation signs, effective guiding and community action groups