Kohutapu Lodge: Where tourism meets education

In a remote town on Te Ika-a-Māui, a family-owned business is bringing together education, tourism and culture. What was once an Indigenous tourism experience has now grown into an educational experience for the community’s—and global—youth.

“Kohutapu Lodge is more than just a place to stay—it’s an invitation into the heart of our culture and the spirit of our people,” shares founder Nadine Toe Toe. “It’s a place where culture, history, and community come together, and an experience that leaves you not just with memories, but with a deeper understanding of who we are, where we come from, and where we are going.”

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For many years, education has been at the heart of Kohutapu Lodge’s operations.

During the pandemic, The Lodge facilitated 12-week life skills courses for rangatahi aged 16 to 24 who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). “The courses were designed to reconnect our rangatahi to their culture, build their confidence, and provide them with practical skills for life and work. These courses are more than just education; they are a chance to reclaim and celebrate our Māori heritage.”

For students from culturally diverse backgrounds, including Māori and Pasifika rangatahi, a connection to culture is proven to help foster positive self-esteem and improve wellbeing. This in turn helps young people to develop confidence, resilience, and other important soft skills that will benefit them throughout their time at school and beyond. By combining cultural awareness and connection with tangible educational outcomes, Kohutapu Lodge made learning accessible to many disengaged young people.

The courses taught traditional skills such as hunting, fishing, gardening, and marae protocols and offered qualifications in areas like forklift operation, scaffolding and chainsaw handling. “In addition to technical skills, we worked to equip our rangatahi with life skills they would need in the workforce. We guided them through the process of setting up IRD numbers, creating CVs, opening bank accounts, and building soft skills like communication and interview techniques. By the end of each course, over 86 percent of our participants successfully transitioned into school, work, or further training.”

These initiatives empowered youth during a time of upheaval and instability. “In the midst of uncertainty, we found purpose in uplifting our rangatahi and giving them the tools to build a better future,” Toe Toe adds.

Supporting local schools and youth

The Lodge’s commitment to youth predated the pandemic. Over the years, it has delivered 30,000 hangi meals to schools, ensuring that children who didn’t have packed lunches could enjoy a nutritious and culturally significant meal.

“We saw this as more than just a meal—it was a way to nourish our community, to build connections, and to honour our traditions,” explains Toe Toe proudly. Initiatives like this ensure that respect for different cultures is embedded in the education system, not just an add-on, or something that’s only celebrated on a particular day each year. And, when students see their culture being celebrated and respected daily by all students, pride in their own identity grows.

Beyond providing the traditionally earth-baked meals, Kohutapu Lodge also funded educational trips around Aotearoa, winter uniforms, international internships and year-long work-ready farming courses. Support was wide ranging across the education spectrum.

“Our connection to the community didn’t stop there,” says Toe Toe. “We made it a priority to take our visitors into the schools every week, where they could meet the youth, learn about different cultures, and inspire them to dream big. Through these cross-cultural exchanges, we helped build pride, confidence, and soft skills in our young people. We also helped broaden their view of the world, introducing them to different languages, career possibilities, and cultures, opening doors to futures they had never imagined.”

One particularly impactful programme was a partnership with National Geographic and Air New Zealand, which brought a photography camp to the Lodge. Twenty Indigenous youth learned storytelling through the lens, with some later pursuing careers in photography. “These initiatives have not only empowered our youth but also helped build a bridge between cultures,” notes Toe Toe.

From tough times, new beginnings

Like many small businesses, Kohutapu Lodge was hit hard by COVID lockdowns and two years of border closures. Nestled on the tranquil shores of Lake Aniwhenua in the Bay of Plenty, Kohutapu Lodge provided visitors an authentic journey into Māori culture and history.

But during the pandemic, when tourism ground to a halt, Kohutapu Lodge pivoted. With funding from He Poutama Rangatahi, a youth pathway programme, the lodge became a rangatahi training facility.

“Rather than giving up, we had to adapt in order to survive. We turned a crisis into an opportunity for our community and our youth,” Toe Toe recounts.

Now more than a tourism destination for cultural connection, education is central to The Lodge’s operations. An extension of work Toe Toe and her team were already doing to help rangatahi engage with their heritage, the educational programmes reach more young people than before, and provide important life skills and opportunities for students to thrive outside the traditional education model.

Fostering connection and respect

While the focus may have been initially on Murupara tamariki, opportunities to be involved are now offered far more broadly. Activities include marae stays, forest tours, and workshops in traditional crafts and weaponry. Students leave with a deeper connection to the land, a better understanding of Indigenous perspectives, and a renewed respect for the environment.

“Our programmes are not only an opportunity to learn about history, culture, and the environment, but also a chance for students to reflect on the importance of regeneration, respect for nature, and cross-cultural understanding.”

By weaving together cultural education, environmental stewardship, and economic opportunities, Kohutapu Lodge is making its town a place of growth and resilience. “We aim to inspire visitors to become advocates for sustainability and cross-cultural understanding, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond Murupara. In this way, we are not only changing the narrative of our town but also contributing to a global movement of responsible, regenerative tourism that honours and uplifts Indigenous communities.”

Global recognition, local commitment

In 2022, Kohutapu Lodge won the Supreme New Zealand Tourism Award, a testament to its commitment to regenerative tourism. “We were invited to speak at the World Indigenous Tourism Summit to share our story, and it was there we connected with a number of Indigenous tourism operators, who aspired for the same things we did—to change the lives of our young Indigenous people and communities through tourism,” explains Toe Toe.

From these new connections, the Native Nations – Tracing Indigenous Footsteps initiative was born, facilitating exchanges between Indigenous youth from New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. Eleven other Indigenous nations from around the world are lined up for future exchanges, laying the foundation for a global network of Indigenous youth leaders who are guiding the way toward a more sustainable, respectful, and interconnected world.

“By taking young people from remote Indigenous communities on journeys around the world, this programme provides life-changing opportunities to travel and connect with other cultures,” Toe Toe says.

Toe Toe and her team are excited to educate more people about the importance of connecting with culture, and specifically about Māori culture. “We use tourism as a tool to create educational opportunities, employment, and cultural exchange, fostering a sense of pride and empowerment within our community.”

The education model at Kohutapu Lodge proves that different approaches to learning and teaching can resonate with different students. Even the disengaged can become school or work ready when their education is approached with understanding, compassion, and some cultural awareness.