Australians anti-Maori culture, says councillor

Australians are boycotting Rotorua because they are not interested in Maori culture and do not like the haka, a councillor for the city says.

Russell Judd's comments, made during a presentation by the Tourism Advisory Board to a Rotorua District Council committee meeting, have sparked harsh criticism from several councillors and drawn a mixed response from the tourism industry.

Despite Australia being New Zealand's biggest international tourism market, less than a quarter of Australians who come to New Zealand visit Rotorua.

Mr Judd said the reason for this was because "they don't like the haka and the Maori culture".

He said he was not trying to be racist. "The Japanese market loves the Maori culture but the Australians don't."

He said the Rotorua tourism industry should focus on its geothermal attractions or outdoor strengths to Australia.

If, in Australia, Rotorua was marketed on Maoridom "you'll be pushing poo up a hill", he said.

Tourism Advisory Board chairman Neville Nicholson said promotion of Rotorua was wider than Maori culture.

"He (Mr Judd) is partially correct in some respects that there is a perception that Australians aren't keen on Maori culture," Mr Nicholson said.

"But one of our strengths is Maoridom. Why would we go overseas and not market our strengths?"

Destination Rotorua Tourism Marketing assistant general manager Ruth McIntyre said while Rotorua's Maori cultural attractions were very good, too many people thought that was all Rotorua had to offer.

She said now that other regions, such as Queenstown, were putting on cultural shows, some visitors thought they could skip Rotorua because they could do it all in Queenstown.

Rotorua Maori Tourism leader Mike Tamaki described Mr Judd's claims as "absolute ignorance".

Mr Tamaki said Rotorua's geothermal activity and Maori culture were the two things drawing people to the city.

But he agreed Rotorua needed to seriously look at protecting its position as a leader in the field.

Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters said he was offended by Mr Judd's comments.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)