Qualmark for marae  

Auckland’s Te Māhurehure Marae has become the first marae in New Zealand to meet the strict criteria for Qualmark’s new Marae Stay Experience.

22/6/11
Qualmark is New Zealand tourism's official quality agency. Its standards and gradings help international and domestic travellers select places to stay, things to do and ways to get around the country. The new Marae Stay Experience grading is a collaboration between Te Puni Kōkiri and Qualmark.

The experience can include a powhiri with welcome speeches, an explanation of what a marae is and its customary purpose, along with details on the meaning of carvings and other symbols found on the marae, the culture of people who use it and their tribal history.  Marae protocol will also be discussed.  

Marae Chairperson Christine Panapa says the approval rating “is a fantastic opportunity for the marae and will help us achieve our goal of offering commercial accommodation for the Rugby World Cup 2011 and beyond. We are proud to be the first to meet Qualmark’s high standards and create a tourism legacy for other marae to follow.”
 
Qualmark’s, National Manager of Endorsements, Grant Ward, says “Qualmark sees the Marae Stay Experience as an opportunity to enhance existing tourism operations, by lifting their profile and offering travellers the assurance that they can book and buy this authentic Māori experience, with confidence.”

ASB Community Trust made grants in 2006 and 2008 to help build the Pt Chevalier Marae, which is now a well-used community facility.