Whaka defends 'world class experience'

The Whakarewarewa Village Charitable Trust is disappointed with an author's comments regarding the village's authenticity as a tourism attraction.

Paul Moon, an historian and academic, has criticised aspects of New Zealand's tourism industry, including taking pot shots at the traditional Maori cultural experience with comments directed at Rotorua's Whakarewarewa's Living Thermal Village.

Dr Moon's book, Encounters - the creation of New Zealand, is set to be launched this week and in it he criticises Maori tourism villages such as Whakarewarewa's.

"The crunch point for me was being offered a cob of sweetcorn which had been freshly boiled in a steaming pool nearby. Tourists are expected to accept that this is part of a traditional Maori cultural experience."

He said most of the village's features were arranged to satisfy visitors' expectations.

"Instead of authenticity, tourists are offered just a vague ambience of history," Dr Moon said.

Trust chairman James Warbrick said yesterday he was "extremely disappointed" with the comments.

"Our people have lived in the village for over 100 years and used the geothermal wonders within the Whakarewarewa Valley in their daily lives. This includes cooking, heating and bathing on a daily basis which is what we portray to our local and international visitors.

"We will continue to offer a world class experience by showcasing our connection to the valley, the journey from Lake Tarawera and our guiding legacy in an appropriate way."