Taupō Tourism Summit - Attendees Registration - Hui a Tapoi 2026
Description
Hui a Tapoi 2026 (Former DGLT Manaakitanga Hui) aims to strengthen collaboration across the local tourism sector and create opportunities for businesses to connect, share knowledge, and promote their tourism products.
The programme will include three key components:
Taupō Tourism Summit – “Tātou tātou”
A one-day conference exploring the wider tourism landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand and highlighting the importance of regional collaboration within the visitor economy.
Agenda
- 8:00 am - 8:45 am
Registration
- 8:50 am - 9:25 am
Opening
Opening: MC Steve Giles Welcome messages - Hon. Louise Upston - Minister for Tourism and Hospitality (Video) - John Funnell, Mayor of Taupō - Patrick Dault, Destination Great Lake Taupō
- 9:25 am - 9:55 am
Update from Tourism New Zealand
Speaker: Sam Allen - Global Manager - Industry & Product Marketing, Tourism New Zealand
- 9:55 am - 10:25 am
Work together to support regional New Zealand
Speaker: Iain Walker - General Manager - Regional, Air New Zealand
- 10:25 am - 10:45 am
The Gateway Effect: building routes, markets and regional growth
Speaker: Michelle Nordemeer, Hamilton Airport
- 10:45 am - 11:05 am
Manaakitanga in Motion
Kristy Phillips, Chief Executive from Hospitality New Zealand
- 11:10 am - 11:40 am
Morning Tea - Regional Food Showcase
Breakout Session 1: Reclaimingthe #1Adventure Destination in the World
Speaker: Eve Lawrence, Head of Sales, Stray
Breakout Session 2: Looking Five Years Ahead: How to Win the Chinese Inbound Market Without Breaking the Bank
Speaker: Chang Chen, Director, Yorkea
Breakout Session 3: What started out as the right thing to do, has turned into a competitive advantage.
Speaker: Paul Button, Rotorua Canopy Tours
- 12:50 pm - 1:05 am
DGLT Update
Patrick Dault
- 1:05 pm - 1:55 pm
Lunch - Regional Food Showcase
Breakout Session 4: Talking to the Modern Traveler
Tripadvisor Katie McDougall Lauren Whicker
Breakout Session 5: AI for Tourism (Panel discussion)
Facilitatior - Sam Allen | TNZ, Ben Blackbourn | One Picture Group Sam Sutton | Rotorua Rafting
Breakout Session 6: Social Media Best Practices for Tourism Operators & Your story, Our story: Building an impactful story
Noora Tuikkanen, Social Tui Shona Cobham, Love Taupō
- 3:25 pm - 3:35 pm
Closing Remarks
Patrick Dault
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