An iwi leader on the government's new tourism taskforce says there is an "untapped wealth" of Māori stories that should form the basis of a new tourism economy.
The Tourism Futures Taskforce will put recommendations on the future of tourism to the government by the end of the year.
Ngāhiwi Tomoana, the chair of Ngāti Kahungunu, is one of seven members on the taskforce and says for too long our tourist economy has relied on adrenaline activites or "white-knuckle fever" as he describes it.
He says Māori stories and history should form the basis of a new tourism economy.
