Skål International Te Tauihu #731

Skal Te Tauihu is NZ’s newest Skal club formally established January 2019. The official name of the club is Skal International Top of the South Island, NZ, trading as Skal Te Tauihu. The Maori place name Te Tauihu covers the regions of Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough. The inaugural meeting was held in October 2018.

President Lynda Keene said, “During discussions about the Club’s name we felt it was important to acknowledge and respect the rich cultural history the region has and there was strong support to adopt SKAL Te Tauihu as our club name. The purpose of forming the club reflects the level of maturity and professionalism the Top of the South Island has developed over the past decade and demonstrates to the New Zealand tourism industry we have emerged as a major player. Members across the regions already work closely together on numerous tourism and economic initiatives and it made sense for us to further develop networking and information sharing opportunities by forming the club. It’s an exciting time for tourism in the Top of the South Island and we’re keen to ensure the hard work in our regions continues to stimulate visitor growth and spend.”

The club has 19 founding members and we’ve set a goal to achieve 40 members within twelve -months. Currently 90% members reside in the Nelson-Tasman region and 10% in Marlborough region. We also plan to invite key tourism and travel operators from the Kaikoura and West Coast regions to join our club. Skal Te Tauihu has travel and tourism professionals from the transport, aviation, accommodation, consulting and tourism activity/attraction sectors.

Club Officers

PRESIDENT

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Lynda Keene                     

keenel@xtra.co.nz                 

Phone 021 279 5395

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VICE PRESIDENT

Mark Burnaby            markb@seashuttle.co.nz       

Phone: 027 667 7972

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SECRETARY

Stuart Geddes                    gm@monacoresort.co.nz      

Phone: 022 044 5903

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TREASURER

Craig Wilson                      craig@qualitytourism.co.nz   

Phone: 027 241 0549

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MEMBERSHIP

 Kelly Harris                  

kelly@hospitality.org.nz

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INDUSTRY

Mark Rawson                       mark.rawson@nrda.co.nz

News

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Skal International Te Tauihu Becomes NZ’s Newest Club

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Vice-President Skal International Peter Morrison handing official club certificate #731
to Skal Te Tauihu President Lynda Keene

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A new Skal International Club in New Zealand (Aotearoa) named Skal International Te Tauihu (Top of the South Island, NZ) had its inaugural official ceremony with founding members receiving their Skal diplomas, badges and pins in Nelson today. Vice-President Skal International, Peter Morrison said, “The establishment of a new club in New Zealand is an exciting indicator that New Zealand has really come of age and matured. The formation of the Skal Te Tauihu club located at the Top of the South Island in the Nelson-Tasman and Marlborough region complements the existing clubs in Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. We’re proud of the work the Skal Te Tauihu Committee has done to get the club established and that the club name reflects the region’s Maori culture and heritage.”

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President Skal NZ, Trish May said, “It is tremendously exciting to have a new club in New Zealand.  I congratulate club President Lynda Keene for leading the formation of the club and thank the foundation members for their commitment. The evening function was a wonderful occasion and there was a lot of optimism and energy in the room. The establishment of the new club is certainly a milestone event for Skal International New Zealand.  During this year two existing clubs, Auckland and Christchurch, have established Young Skal divisions.  In total, membership across New Zealand has grown by 20% in the past ten months. We look forward to hosting Te Tauihu Skalleagues at Skal events around New Zealand and I know there is huge interest from Skalleagues to visit a Te Tauihu meeting in the future as well.”

Lynda Keene, President Skal Te Tauihu said, “The Club is delighted to officially join the global network of Skalleagues around the world and form new friendships that may help businesses to grow. The calibre of members is first-class and its great to be part of a new organisation that support and encourages friendship, business expertise and good old social networking pre-Facebook days. As the first club to integrate aspects of Te Reo Maori (language) at our meetings we will recite the Skal Toast in English and Te Reo Maori, along similar lines New Zealanders do when singing our national anthem. On behalf of Te Tauihu Skalleagues, thank you to Skalleagues for the very warm welcome we’ve received and for those supporting with establishment of the Club.”

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For Further Comment:

• SKAL TOTS, NZ Club President – Lynda Keene, Mobile Ph: 021 279 5395

• Skal International New Zealand President Trish May, Mobile Ph: 021 916 188

About Te Tauihu

https://teara.govt.nz/en/te-tau-ihu-tribes

Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka-a-Māui is the prow of the demigod Māui’s canoe – the top of the South Island.

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There are now eight tribes in Te Tau Ihu (Nelson–Marlborough):

• Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne and Ngāti Apa (from the Kurahaupō canoe)

• Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Rārua and Ngāti Toa (from the Tainui canoe)

• Ngāti Tama and Te Āti Awa (from Taranaki).

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