Destination Rotorua Marketing general manager Oscar Nathan said Rotorua was fortunate to benefit from Te Arawa's legacy as leaders in Maori cultural visitor experiences.
"That said, Tauranga Moana has for a number of years been offering cultural experiences to cruise ship manuhiri [visitors] through the likes of Paparoa and others and during this time Rotorua has continued to realise growth in daytime visitation from cruise ship passengers."
He said the reality was tourism, like any industry, was competitive and it was no surprise Tauranga was looking for ways to extract more value from the growing cruise sector.
"The message in these sorts of announcements for us here in Rotorua is to ensure we remain committed to the delivery of quality and are continually reviewing, revising and repositioning our cultural expression in ways that are not just traditional but also contemporary.
"At the end of the day, cruise passengers come to Rotorua not just because of culture but because we offer a rich tapestry of visitor experiences," he said.
Tauranga iwi Ngai Te Rangi chief executive Brian Dickson said he was unaware of the plan until contacted by reporters.
"I would have thought that if they had done their homework they would have contacted us ... it is right in the middle of Ngai Te Rangi territory."
Mauao Cultural Centre
Cultural experience
Live performances
Cinema
Cafe and retail
Tourist information services
Convention space
