December 8, 2020 TnH Global

Tourism New Zealand highlights the importance of Whānau through its new brand video

Tourism New Zealand’s “Messages from New Zealand” campaign was launched earlier this year sharing video messages of hope and care for their Indian travellers, presenting a unique Kiwi perspective about what is important to them. The campaign brings together every day New Zealanders who embody the values of manaakitanga (hospitality) and kaitiakitanga (care for the land) through deep friendships, personal connections and positivity spread across everything they say and everything they do.

As a continuation of the optimistic messaging, Tourism New Zealand has unveiled another video highlighting the importance of “Whānau”, a concept central to Māori social structure which refers to family and extended family.

For New Zealanders, whānau can include your close family, distant relatives, friends, colleagues, community members and even a stranger who may need a guiding hand in a foreign country.

Whānau is one of the core Maori beliefs instilled in New Zealanders as they care for their guests as if they were their very own family, a concept which bears a striking similarity to Indian culture. New Zealand is a place where everyone is welcomed and accepted, a tradition passed down by ancestors who taught them to value love, friendship and camaraderie. When visitors (manuhiri) travel to New Zealand or India, they are sure to leave the country as family (whānau).

This video encourages all of us to stop and think about what family really means to us. Given the past year and how we connected with and supported each other during a pandemic, you could say the concept of whānau is actually more important than ever.