COVID-19, indigenous peoples and tourism: a view from New Zealand

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact is predicted to be long-lasting with intergenerational impacts for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Indigenous peoples offer untapped potential for understanding how we are shaping resilient solutions to COVID-19 and similar threats in the future. In New Zealand, the Māori people occupy diverse leadership and occupational roles throughout society. As a result of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) they are recognised, through Acts of Parliament, as government partners who work in governance and planning processes, including the COVID-19 response. Such recognition can result in the inclusion of Māori values such as whanaungatanga (kinship and belonging), kaitiakitanga (environmental guardianship and responsibility) and manaakitanga (respect, care, and hospitality) within policy and Acts of Parliament. Māori leaders and spokespeople are stressing that environmental and social welfare needs of all communities should be prioritised as part of the COVID-19 solution and that tourism responses cannot be separated from social needs. Government responses and planning efforts that incorporate diverse cultural values ensure more equitable futures and positive experiences for tourism providers, travellers and the hosts. In this way Indigenous-informed approaches would positively contribute to transforming business, health and education for a more positive global society.

摘要

根据预测, 新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）疫情的影响是长期的, 将对原住民和非原住民都产生代际影响。在如何制定弹性解决方案以应对新冠疫情和今后类似威胁方面, 原住民提供了尚未开发的潜力。在新西兰, 毛利人在全社会中发挥着不同的领导和职业作用。根据1840年《威坦哲条约》（Te Tiriti）, 通过《议会法案》, 他们被确认为政府的合作伙伴而参与治理和规划进程, 包括应对新冠疫情。这种认可将使得毛利人的价值观被纳入议会的政策和法案之中, 如whanaungatanga（亲属关系与归属感）、kaitiakitanga（环境监护与责任）和manaakitanga（尊重, 关怀及好客）等。毛利人的领导者和发言人强调, 作为新冠疫情应对方案的一部分, 需优先考虑所有社区的环境和社会福利需求, 旅游业的应对措施也不能脱离社会需要。在政府的应对措施和规划工作中应纳入多元文化价值观, 以确保旅游供应商、游客和东道主有更加公平的未来和积极的体验。由此, 通过原住民知情方法, 可以积极促进商业、卫生和教育的转型, 以建立一个更加积极的国际社会。

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• Indigenous people
• indigenous tourism
• indigenous values
• Māori
• communities
• New Zealand

关键词:

• 新冠肺炎
• 原住民
• 原住民旅游
• 本土价值观
• 毛利人
• 社区
• 新西兰

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anna Carr

Anna Carr (Ngāpuhi, Ngati Ruanui) is an Associate Professor and co-director of the Centre for Recreation Research at the Department of Tourism, University of Otago, New Zealand. Before academia, Anna was owner-operator of two adventure tourism businesses and worked for the Department of Conservation. Her current research interests focus on protected areas, cultural landscapes and community development.