Tiaki Our Treasures: A Māori Interpretation of the Tiaki Promise

Rooted in the values of manaakitanga (hospitality), kaitiakitanga (guardianship), and whanaungatanga (connection), the Tiaki Promise asks each of us to move through Aotearoa with care, humility, and purpose.

Tiaki: A Māori Worldview

In te ao Māori (the Māori world), everything is connected. The natural world is not something we own or use but something we are part of. The word tiaki is a verb meaning to care for, protect, guard, and preserve. When we do this, we become kaitiaki, guardians of the environment, our culture, and our people. Kaitiakitanga is a role grounded in whakapapa (genealogy) inherited from our ancestors.

According to the Māori creation story, we descend from the Ranginui (Sky Father) and Papatūānuku (Earth Mother). Their children are the atua (spiritual guardians) of different parts of the natural world, like Tānemahuta – guardian of the forest and all its creatures; Tangaroa – guardian of the ocean and marine life; and Tūmatauenga – guardian of war and humankind. Knowing this, we understand we are related to all parts of the environment. This relationship brings an inherited responsibility to protect and care for the land, sea, and skies as they care for us.

Understanding the Tiaki Promise

The Tiaki Promise is a modern reflection of this value system. It invites tangata whenua (people of the land) and manuhiri (visitors) to uphold this way of being. We are encouraged to care for the land, sea, and wildlife, respect Māori culture and customs, travel responsibly and safely, and leave no trace.

The Tiaki Promise is not about perfection; it’s about intention. It’s about moving through the land with awareness and aroha (love), understanding that your actions have an impact. When you enter a place like Te Ihu o Mataoho (Māngere Mountain) or the waters of the Waitematā or Manukau Harbours, you are entering into a relationship, not just a destination. We tiaki, and we are kaitiaki. We care for the environment, and it cares for us in return.

Living the Promise: How Visitors Can Tiaki in Tāmaki

The Tiaki Promise can be embraced through simple, meaningful choices, especially in how and where you choose to spend your time and money. Booking with a Treasures of Tāmaki organisation is one way to uphold the Promise. Each Treasure offers a genuine cultural experience shaped by Māori values and stories:

• Te Ihu o Mataoho Tours takes visitors across the region's volcanic landscape. Through ancestral stories and tikanga (customs), visitors gain a deeper understanding of the land they walk on.
• At Te Hana Te Ao Mārama, storytelling, history, and performance bring Māori traditions to life in immersive, interactive ways.
• The Haka Experience connects you to the spirit of haka and waiata through powerful performance and participation. You’re not just a spectator, you’re part of the kaupapa.
• Matariki Tours invites you to explore the stars and celestial navigation through a Māori lens. These tours celebrate indigenous astronomy and mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge).
• Rerehua Boutique, Aria Collection, and Mā Whero Education offer taonga (treasures) crafted with purpose and integrity. Purchasing from them supports creators who embed cultural identity into every piece.
• Blue Rose Café celebrates the diverse tastes of Aotearoa. With kai that reflects Pacific and Māori flavours, this local favourite transforms a meal into a cultural experience.
• Te Arikinui Pullman and Novotel Auckland Airport are committed to sustainability and cultural inclusion, ensuring that manaakitanga (care/hospitality) extends to guests who pass through their doors.

Why Booking with a Treasure of Tāmaki Matters

Every booking is a decision about the kind of world you want to support. When you choose a Treasure of Tāmaki, you’re supporting more than a business; you’re supporting cultural revival, environmental stewardship, and community resilience. These businesses are not just operators. They are kaitiaki in their own right, sharing stories, protecting heritage, and caring for place.

Three Steps to Tiaki Our Treasures of Tāmaki

Choose consciously

Book with a Treasure of Tāmaki to support authentic, locally owned, culturally rich experiences.

Learn with respect

Come with curiosity and humility. Listen to the stories shared, follow tikanga, and allow your hosts to guide you.

Actively care

Protect the environment, leave no trace, advocate for the places and people you connect with, and remember that you’re not just a visitor but a guest of the land and its people.

When visitors embrace the values of kaitiakitanga, their journey becomes a meaningful exchange, not just an escape. In Tāmaki Makaurau, the land speaks, the people share, and the promise continues. Together, we can all play a part in protecting the treasures of this place, for today and for generations to come.