Te Arawa Management Ltd has bought Rotorua Duck Tours. Photo / Supplied
A leading Rotorua iwi entity has made an “exciting” move to buy one of the city’s most iconic tourism businesses.
Te Arawa Management Ltd, the commercial arm of Te Arawa Lakes Trust, has bought Rotorua Duck Tours – a 23-year-old business involving land-to-lake tours on amphibious World War II landing craft.
It says the move will create jobs for descendants, as it looks to develop the businesses into a Māori storytelling experience authentic to Te Arawa.
Rotorua Duck Tours was started by brothers Trevor and Peter Weir in 2003.
Trevor Weir told the Rotorua Daily Post he hoped the new owners would enthusiastically develop the business.
“It’s a good synergy that it’s Te Arawa as they will get to tell their own stories, which is quite amazing.”
Trevor said he and his brother wanted to sell the business just before the pandemic struck, but they had to continue during that difficult time. It officially went on the market in 2024.
“It’s gone now, which is great news and it’s gone to a really great company. I am looking forward to seeing how they will push it forward.”
Both brothers intended to stay in Rotorua and continue with other established business ventures.
Te Arawa Lakes Trust is the owner of the lake beds and manages the cultural, environmental and commercial interests of 14 lakes in the Rotorua region on behalf of Te Arawa hapū. The trust was set up in 2006 following a Treaty of Waitangi settlement.
A trust statement said buying Rotorua Duck Tours enabled it to shape tourism on its own terms, guide how its stories were told and ensure cultural integrity.
The statement said Te Arawa Management Ltd acknowledged the Weir brothers for their commitment, innovation and contribution to Rotorua’s tourism sector over the decades.
Before buying the business, the trust’s biosecurity and taiao (environment) restoration operations manager, William Anaru, and his team undertook extensive environmental impact assessments.
The statement said Anaru’s findings confirmed the Rotorua Duck Tours operation met safe environmental standards.
Te Arawa Management Ltd chairman Trevor Newland said the acquisition marked a significant step forward.
“This is a strategic investment that allows us to exercise mana whakahaere [authority] while building a sustainable commercial platform for Te Arawa Management Ltd.”
He said it created opportunities to generate ongoing cashflow that would support the aspirations of Te Arawa Lakes Trust and deliver long-term benefits for descendants.
Te Arawa Lakes Trust chairman Wallace Haumaha said the move reflected a strong alignment between economic development and kaitiakitanga (guardianship).
“This is about ensuring that activity on our lakes reflects our values and responsibilities as tangata whenua. At the same time, it strengthens the economic base that enables us to protect and enhance the mauri [lifeforce] of our lakes for future generations.”
Haumaha said it would also open up pathways for Te Arawa descendants in employment, leadership and enterprise.
“Our role as Te Arawa Lakes Trust is to uphold the mauri of our lakes while supporting opportunities that benefit our people. That can only be achieved through genuine partnership, shared understanding, and a collective commitment to doing what is right for our lakes and our uri [descendants].”
Haumaha said tourism in Rotorua depended on the quality of the waterways.
He said Rotorua Duck Tours had been operating on the lakes for the last 20 years and had a proven track record.
“It causes a lot less damage than some recreational boats.”
He said Tūhourangi and Ngāti Rangitihi descendants had deep connections with the three lakes used by Rotorua Duck Tours – Lake Tikitapu, Lake Ōkāreka and Lake Tarawera.
“We have our own local people, stories and waiata to make tourists’ stay here in Rotorua an authentic one.”
He said local Māori had always been experts in telling those stories.
“It is an exciting time. This is the start of our intention to be a major player in terms of our tourism footprint in our own town.”
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.