Story: Te tāpoi Māori – Māori tourism

Meter maids in traditional costume

Meter maids in traditional costume

Young Māori meter maids (who collect money from parking meters) pose in Māori costume in Rotorua in 1966. The availability of air travel in the 1960s saw a new influx of international tourists to New Zealand. The Rotorua City Council tried to capitalise on the new visitors by outfitting its meter maids in Māori dress. This well-meaning but artificial scheme caused some controversy amongst the local community.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Reference: AAQT 6539 A78721

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How to cite this page:

Paul Diamond, 'Te tāpoi Māori – Māori tourism - 20th-century Māori tourism', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/23723/meter-maids-in-traditional-costume (accessed 28 April 2024)

Story by Paul Diamond, published 11 Mar 2010