Taranaki Tourism Summit 2025

Keynote - Derby Blue Pods Ride 
Tara Howell is an award-winning entrepreneur, a Certified B Corp business owner, and the founder of Blue Derby Pods Ride, Australia’s first luxury adventure mountain biking experience. Based in Tasmania, Tara brings expertise in brand, sustainability, and tourism, and is recognised for her creative leadership, bold thinking, and fearless approach to innovation. 

Tourism for Good: Walking together towards a shared future 
Kylie Ruwhiu-Karawana is Managing Director of TRC Tourism and a respected leader in Indigenous and sustainable tourism. With over 25 years’ experience, she helps communities create values-based tourism models that honour culture and place, integrating destination stewardship, cultural heritage, and meaningful visitor experiences across New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific. 

Investing in tourism 
Jolanda Cave is General Manager at Ngāi Tahu Tourism, one of Aotearoa’s largest tourism operators, with iconic experiences such as Shotover Jet and Franz Josef Glacier Guides. With deep expertise across tourism, from jet boating to cruise, she is passionate about building capability, prioritising safety, and driving iwi-led tourism innovation. 

Tourism for Good: Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne
Gabby Lawton is a visitor experience specialist with over 20 years’ experience across museums, tourism, and education. At Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, she’s helped shape visitor programmes and tourism products that connect people with nature and purpose, driving growth, engagement, and meaningful action for conservation. 

Panel: The stakeholders and the system: Ngā mata tini o te hāpai
Panel: Realising opportunities in Taranaki
Karl Burrows is General Manager Pou Ārahi Māori at Tourism New Zealand, guiding how Te Ao Māori is woven into how Aotearoa is shared with the world. He champions authentic Māori storytelling and mana-enhancing partnerships that ensure tourism reflects the voices and values of the communities it represents. 

Panel: The stakeholders and the system: Ngā mata tini o te hāpai
Andrew Wilson is Chief Executive of RotoruaNZ and Chair of Regional Tourism New Zealand (RTNZ). With over two decades’ experience across government, business, and economic development, Andrew leads destination management and regional growth strategies in Rotorua, focused on partnership, innovation, and strengthening the connection between people, place, and purpose. 

Panel: Realising opportunities in Taranaki 
Marijke Dunselman is the founder and CEO of Agritourism New Zealand, an award-winning leader in agri-tourism business development. With over 27 years’ experience working with farmers and tourism operators, she helps rural communities diversify income, build resilience, and connect agriculture with visitor experiences through training, advocacy, and the Agritourism Academy & Community. 

North Taranaki Visitors Centre - investing in tourism
Joshua Hitchcock (Te Atiawa, Taranaki Iwi) is Pou Iho Tū / General Manager – Economic Development at Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Trust. He leads the Te Kotahitanga Group’s commercial operations. He is overseeing the redevelopment of the North Taranaki Visitor and Conference Centre, a transformative iwi-led project at the base of Taranaki Maunga. 

The Taranaki opportunity
Reflections and regional opportunities
Brylee Flutey (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Rangitāne) is General Manager Destination at Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki. She leads the region’s destination strategy, driving tourism, major events, and investment initiatives that strengthen Taranaki’s identity, economic prosperity, and connection between people and place.

Reflections and regional opportunities  
Wharehoka Wano is CEO of Te Tōpuni Ngārahu, the regional body representing the eight iwi of Taranaki. With over 20 years’ leadership experience in education and iwi development, he champions Māori-led tourism and authentic maunga-to-moana experiences that connect visitors with Taranaki’s landscapes, people, and rich tribal narratives. 

Panel: The stakeholders and the system: Ngā mata tini o te hāpai
Originally from South Africa, Gareth has over 19 years of experience with the Department of Conservation. His background in ecotourism and species management has shaped a strong belief in the power of partnership to deliver enduring outcomes for conservation, community, and visitor experiences across Aotearoa’s most treasured landscapes. 

Reflections and regional opportunities
Liana Poutu (Te Atiawa, Taranaki, Whanganui, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Maniapoto) is Chair of Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi and Pouwhakarae of Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa. A respected governance leader, she plays a key role in iwi-led tourism and development projects, including the North Taranaki Visitor Centre and Taranaki Crossing Project.

Reflections and regional opportunities
Paora Rauputu, Pouwhakahaere of He Toronga Pakihi ki Taranaki, brings extensive professional experience spanning accounting, HR, and business leadership. With an MBA and prior roles at Tegel and Parininihi ki Waitotara, he is passionate about fostering thriving Māori communities and guiding the organisation’s next stage of growth and development.

Panel: Realising opportunities in Taranaki 
Gina Blackburn is Pouwhakakaupapa for Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa. A qualified travel consultant and Masters graduate in Māori and Indigenous Leadership, she leads the rebuild of the North Taranaki Visitor Centre - an iwi-led project that celebrates Te Atiawa identity, enhances visitor experiences, and connects people and place. 

Sector spotlight: harnessing the manaaki and the whenua 
With nearly 20 years of managing Kai Waho, Tom has built deep relationships through a sustainable and selective hunting programme. Experience in tourism is most valued when it helps people grow — strengthening capability, confidence, and connection from Tongariro Maunga to Taranaki Maunga. 

Pukerangiora Visitor Experience - The power of kōrero tāwhito
Chris Hay is the founder and principal of Locales, a Wellington-based design and storytelling agency specialising in cultural heritage, tourism, and place-based interpretation. His work is recognised for building strong partnerships with iwi, hapū, and communities, creating meaningful visitor experiences that connect people deeply with place across Aotearoa and Australia. 

Pukerangiora Visitor Experience - The power of kōrero tāwhito
He uri mokopuna nō Te Ātiawa nui tonu. 
He Tumu ahurea, he Pou tikanga 
nō Pukerangiora. 
He waha kōrero nō Te Hungaririki, Kairau. 
Ko Rūmātiki Timu taku ingoa. 

Panel: Realising opportunities in Taranaki 
With over 25 years in hospitality across New Zealand and Australia, Jayesh Bala’s career with Accor Hotels reflects dedication and growth, from porter to General Manager. Now leading the Novotel New Plymouth team, Jayesh is passionate about delivering exceptional guest experiences and showcasing authentic Taranaki manaakitanga. 

Panel: Realising opportunities in Taranaki 
Peter Crawford is General Manager of the Tawa Group, a family-owned tourism accommodation business founded in 2014. Based in Taranaki, the Group operates Belt Road Seaside Holiday Park and additional sites across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, and champions sustainable, community-focused tourism across New Zealand. 

Reflections and regional opportunities  
Daniel Fleming is the General Manager and co-owner of King & Queen Hotel Suites, New Plymouth’s award-winning luxury boutique hotel. A passionate hotel advocate and community leader, Daniel has served as Chair of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce and held leadership roles with Sheraton, Millennium, and IHG internationally. 

Reflections and regional opportunities  
Ross Dingle is General Manager Commercial at Port Taranaki, leading the organisation’s commercial, marketing, customer, and community initiatives, including its property portfolio. With over 25 years of experience across finance, technology, and infrastructure, Ross plays a key role in driving cruise tourism growth and strengthening regional economic opportunities in Taranaki.