Praise for Waka Toa, New Zealand Maori Performing Arts Group

"Waka Toa is highly regarded in Gisborne. They are a truly professional and very entertaining group" (abridged)

Meng Foon, JP, Mayor, Gisborne District

"On behalf of prospective and future client visitors, I have experienced a variety of Maori cultural performances as a necessary part of researching the cultural tourism "products" on offer in New Zealand. There is nothing out there that comes close to the highly personalised and incredibly authentic experience I was privileged to witness when meeting the Waka Toa group in Gisborne.

Set up high on the tribe's original pa site overlooking Gisborne valley, with the sun setting over Te Urewera National Park hills to the west, the scenery is an experience in itself. Following a spine-tingling "wero" or "welcome" from Kohi and his performers, the ability to meet, sit down and talk to members of the group about their origins in the region, and their old ways and traditions, is what sets this experience apart from the rest - informative, eye-opening, and insightful. This is the only cultural experience good enough for client visitors of ours..."

Jeremy Zinzan, Managing Director, Elixir New Zealand (Inbounder)

"the Powhiri and Performances are of a high standard and the interaction between Waka Toa and the visitors is personalised, the most outstanding characteristic of the performance is the Korero (speech) of Kohi Kingi. During this Korero, Kohi explains about what drives Waka Toa and it is this Korero that moves the visitors."

Kees Weytmans, Managing Director, Knapdale Eco Lodge

"(a) combination of spectacular place, highly polished professional performance and a heartfelt connection."

Craig Wilson, Business Consultant, NZ Tourism