EDITORIAL

Heritage – a tourism itinerary

COVID-19, heritage and tourism are words we might reasonably expect to have a negative context. We probably expect to read about lockdowns, restrictions on travel, properties and businesses closed, and visitor numbers significantly down. There is some truth in this, but COVID-19 has also meant an opportunity to think about how we adapt to bring heritage tourism to peoples’ attention and make it available to everyone in different and exciting ways. As such, I am delighted to see our newly launched domestic tourism website featured in this Heritage Quarterly.

E whakamātakitakitia ana ngā taonga tuku iho Nō te whenua takapou whāriki Nō te moana karohirohi Nō ngā whakatipuranga o nanahi nei Kua tārehua ki te pō Whakatau mai ki tēnei whārangi ipurangi O te Pouhere Taonga E kitea ai ngā taonga o Aotearoa Me he puna kahurangi tōna rite E kore e mimiti noa Displayed here are the heritage treasures From the land spread below And the shining ocean From the generations of the past Who have since passed on into night Welcome to this website Of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga In your search for the treasures of New Zealand For it is like a precious spring That shall never run dry

These are the enticing words of welcome to the visitheritage.org.nz website where you can access stories of wonderful heritage places, including those we manage on behalf of the Crown. You will also find several excellent New Zealand heritage travel itineraries, along with delightful imagery, practical visitor information and up-to-date heritage event information from around the country. It is all about the best of heritage, and it is very inviting. In COVID-19 times we need to be adaptable to ensure that heritage remains alive and available. Virtual access and experience are a welcome complement to that of irreplaceable first-hand encounters. We cannot wait to welcome you back regularly to all our heritage places, and when that’s not possible, we invite you to explore and enjoy this new website. We would also appreciate you sharing this experience and website to friends and whanau, spreading the joy and rich experiences of heritage tourism with other New Zealanders. n