Last blog article I have done is regarding the opportunities that Te Hana has, and can be utilised. However, that is more visionary than practical. To successfully implement the project and make Te Hana can actually contribute in regional scaled economic development, the key stakeholders are necessary to be looked into.
This project is highly depending on the involvement of a number of stakeholders from the public sector, community organisations, funding trust as well as volunteers from local. Te Hana Community Development Charitable Trust is formed as the initiator of the community project, with aiming of enhancing community’s reputation and recognition by the council and develops Te Hana as one of New Zealand renowned Maori cultural tourism spot.
The Trust plays vital role of turning visions into actions and to make the objectives achieved. In order to achieve this, first thing first is to enhance community cohesion by getting support from local residences and providing skill training to help volunteered residences working in a more effective and efficient way. Local volunteer although may provide support to contribute on the project, it may, somehow not adequate in making the project works. The community at this stage needs to consider bringing talents with relevant skills or knowledge to contribute on working the project.
Once the project is designed and gained local support, the Trust may now apply for council’s support. Some certain degrees of refining and developing social and physical infrastructures are needed now to make the community have a better environment, $58,000 set aside by Rodney District Council Community Plan 2008 for up-grade Te Hana community’s living quality (Te Hana Community Development Charitable Trust, 2007). Council’s support also includes the political aspects, the Maori traditional building restoration in Te Hana may be rare and council may not deal with it before, with community’s explanation, the council will be able to understand the project’s purpose. Te Hana is a community with strong cohesion and self-awareness, to support this kind of community is obviously what the council should do, for political aspects of this project, council should allow the maximum development of Maori traditional building with intension of protecting natural environment, whereas Maori people see themselves as guardian for the natural environment, this will not be an issue. Special rate on commercialised land should be provided special rate, as another political support from council to promote Te Hana’s community project.
Auckland council has one council controlled organisation - Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED), which play role in attracting and planning for major events, it will also develop tourism products and run visitor information centres (Auckland Council, 2011). ATEED here has the role of helping Te Hana to plan and run the cultural tourism project with better suggestions. The community also needs to ask the council to include them into Auckland’s long term plan and provide appropriate level of promotions.
In tourism village developing stage, the Trust will need to seek for individual charity donations as well as possible funding sources from interested organisation, corporations as well as financial companies. Here the ASB Community Trust funds organisations working in the arts or cultural sectors, which would be a great opportunity for the community organisation to apply for.
Once the development is complete, Maori cultural activities such as Haka, welcome ceremony, traditional hospitality will be run by local residences as vast majority of residence are Maori is a privilege. Local residences also need to volunteer taking the responsibility of local security for the tourism village as well as the tourists.
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