NEW ZEALAND
… AND HAVE
WE GOT ANY
BISCUITS LEFT?
While attending New Zealand’s
main exhibition & conference
for business events last year,
MEETINGS, we managed to
speak with some of the key
people driving this success story
After many phone calls with a helpful press secretary
and several emails later, I manage to get squeezed into
the schedule of one of the New Zealand government’s
most interesting ministers. Kelvin Davis is minister for
Tourism, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Crown/Māori
Relations, and Associate Minister of Education portfolio
(Māori Education)—he’s also the first deputy leader of Maori
descent. Previously a teacher & school Principal he is a
man who’s proud of his Maori heritage. With such a broad
portfolio and interesting background Kelvin Davis proves to
be exactly what you would expect—principled but realistic
and with a human touch.
You can’t help but feel that this man wants to engage in
a conversation, not just give sound bites. Our 10-minute
interview rolls into 20 minutes and an anxious press
secretary politely reminds us that we’re running over time.
“Don’t worry, we can make up the time” says the minister.
“Tourism is the face of New Zealand, and it’s the people
that make the difference” says Davis. He points out that
tourism can learn a lot from Maori culture, which has
hospitality as one of its three core values. “Hospitality isn’t
just about asking someone round for a cup of tea,” explains j
Kelvin Davis, minister
for Tourism, Minister
for Corrections,
Minister for Crown/
Māori Relations, and
Associate Minister of
Education portfolio
(Māori Education)
Issue 2 2019 | Chief of Staff 29