70 | Hells Gate Geothermal Reserve & Mud Spa TOURISM T T Sue Russell Hell’s Gate’s General Manager, Paul Rayner, says the accolade is a source of great pride. Photo: Miles Holden. This year, the renowned indigenous historical site and popular tourist attraction Hell’s Gate Geothermal Reserve and Mud Spa near Rotorua was recognised at the NZCTA Business Awards for its contribution to strengthening economic and cultural engagement between New Zealand and China. As a finalist in the Top Māori Contribution to the NZ/China Relationship category, Hell’s Gate’s General Manager, Paul Rayner, says the accolade is a source of great pride. “This wonderful environment we look after and nurture for Ngāti Rangiteaorere, mana whenua over Hell’s Gate Geothermal Park, a place we traditionally call Tikitere, carries deep significance to us. As a team looking after this precious resource and developing the business, we feel very privileged and a sense of deep responsibility to develop Tikitere further, enriching the experiences of its visitors.” Being recognised by NZCTA is something Paul and his team are very proud of. Looking after the day to day, while fulfilling a broader, longer-term strategic plan for the business, and engaging with the nearly 1700 shareholders are all core focus activities. Tikitere’s history is as engaging as the experiences visitors are exposed to when they step inside its domain. Ngāti Rangiteaorere people have lived on and cared for this land for nearly 700 years and today it is one of the few geothermal reserves in New Zealand that remain entirely Māori-owned and operated by local iwi. “We are positioned on the outskirts of Rotorua and the site has a mud spa facility right in the middle, along with 2.5km of trails for visitors to experience. We call ourselves the ‘paddock to plate’ of the spa world.” Visitors have the opportunity to partake in a guided outdoor tour, not only learning about the history of the mud and water but also experience carving a taonga at Tikitere’s carving house, a momento of their time at the reserve they take away with them. “We sand and stain their carving so they can take it off-shore as a piece to remember this place by.” The Mud Spa, Paul shares, has had a few iterations over the years, with the first one constructed around 2000. Hells Gate recognised by NZCTA “You know there’s no YouTube video on how you go about building a mud spa. I was 14 years old at the time. We had to come up with our own design and that’s morphed into different things. Our current facility underwent a big renovation back in 2012 and we’re constantly pouring care and attention into the Spa.” Taking seriously the responsibility given as a mandate from the iwi who own Hell’s Gate, Paul and the team pour considerable time and energy into maintaining strong communication ties with the owners. A longer-term lens is now being applied to the continued development of the precious resources, with the latest strategic step in the form of on-site accommodation arriving next year. “There will be five luxury villas where people can stay overnight. This will be one of the only places in the world where guests will wake up to a panoramic view of a geothermal reserve.” The relationship with Chinese business and tourism stems back a long way Paul says, describing Hell’s Gate as one of the early adopters in the Chinese market. “We’ve always kept a connection running and we’ve built a strong brand, driven through our focus on culture. Our domestic market has responded, doubling our visitor numbers since COVID.” A core strength to the business’s management style Paul says is to recognise the value in collaboration within the team and to positively seek input from others to gain a wider perspective. ,“In many respects COVID was the best thing that happened to us. It created a space and time for us to really examine who we are, what we stand for and to find new ways to express these things.” Paul is passionate about the Rotorua tourism community, saying its the best in the country. “We are all NZ first, North Island second, Rotorua third and our business fourth. It’s interesting to also see that a lot of Chinese culture carries similar values and world-views as we do, so this partnership is something we really nurture and value.” Covering all aspects of electrical and electrical inspections Commercial | Residential | Industrial | Farms Mike Grondsma 027 7894 294 mike@mgelectrical.co.nz
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