New CEO for Top Tourism Destination Te Puia

November 22, 2011

New CEO for Top Tourism Destination Te Puia

The board of the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, trading as Te Puia, has announced the appointment of Tim Cossar as its new chief executive.

Mr Cossar, who will take up the new role in the New Year, leaves the Tourism Industry Association where he has been chief executive since 2008.

Chairman of the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute Harry Burkhardt says his board is delighted to have attracted someone of Tim’s calibre to take over leadership at Te Puia.

Mr Burkhardt says Tim is a highly regarded figure in tourism having previously been instrumental in driving the development of Positively Wellington Tourism.

He says the board has been involved in a process of strategic focus aimed at setting the direction for the medium term future. That future will involve growing an already successful organisation and visitor experience while extracting greater levels of value out of the latent potential available to Te Puia.

“We have a twin focus – one on growing and enhancing the visitor experience and a second about protecting the legacy of Maori arts and crafts as set out in our act of Parliament set in place in 1963.

“We believe Tim Cossar has the track record, skills and demonstrated commitment to take Te Puia to this next level.”

Tim Cossar has a strong history in tourism and management in New Zealand. Prior to his role at Positively Wellington Tourism he was CEO of the Queen Elizabeth II Trust, General Manager of the Outdoorsman Headquarters in Rotorua and before that General Manager of Tourism Rotorua.

ENDS

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