Waka on the Avon

News Release
Embargoed until 2pm, Wednesday 4 April 2007

Waka on the Avon

A new tourism venture celebrating Maori culture will soon see visitors to Christchurch paddling down the Avon in a waka.

Katoro Maori Tours is about to launch a 10-metre single-hulled waka called Te Kowhai onto the Avon so that visitors to the city can have an authentic Maori voyaging experience. They will paddle the waka themselves and learn about its history and the significance of the carvings.

Te Kowhai is the first purpose-designed waka for the tourism and local markets. Owners James and Aoraki Brennan, partnering with brother, Dave Brennan of Ko Tane Maori Experience at Willowbank spotted a gap in the market after participating in a large business tourism event at Clearwater Resort last year.

For the Brennan family, nearly all of whom are involved in the venture, it is a return to their roots.

ENDS

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