About the Tamaki Brothers | founders of Tamaki Heritage Experiences

In 1989, Mike and Doug Tamaki began building a dream… It started with the sale of a Harley Davidson motorcycle and the purchase of a 16-seater mini bus.

You see, Mike had been looking everywhere for money to set up what to most onlookers (and bank managers for that matter) seemed a random and “sure-to-fail” business idea. He had been declined a bank loan from the major lenders – actually from all the lenders. After months without progress, Mike was still doggedly determined. When it looked like he had exhausted all avenues - out of the blue, the answer appeared - right at the end of his nose – well it was very close by, anyway.

The answer lay with his brother, Doug’s shiny pride and joy – a Harley Davidson motorcycle. It took a while to wear down his brother’s resolve - but as with all good stories, there was eventually a happy ending. Doug parted with the Harley. Next thing you know, the boys found themselves on the way back from Auckland in a not-so-shiny (and kind of empty!) 16-seater Japanese minibus.

Empty as it had only the one seat, Mike saw the value in letting his brother, recently bereft of his Harley, drive home. And all the way home, they nutted-out the plan. History was in motion.

The concept saw the brothers and their families create a whole new encounter with Maori culture outside of the hotel environment. They set about creating - from scratch - a pre-European Maori village, 15 minutes south of Rotorua. Many said they shouldn't, couldn’t or wouldn't pull it off. The distance from hotels was seen as a deterrent, the forest setting wouldn't happen, the in-ground, real hangi approach (as opposed to the shortcut versions being offered at the time) seemed labour intensive and too difficult. The Tamaki brothers turned all of these negatives into positives.

With entrepreneurial spirit still bubbling away twenty years on, and after many years dedicated to pushing the concept of ‘storytelling’ for regions, cultural tourism products and the country as a whole, Mike & Doug Tamaki at the helm of Tamaki Heritage Experiences, have now embarked on yet another ground breaking and revolutionary new approach to sharing our culture, our history and our stories.

Speaking Opportunities

Having spoken at hundreds of events over the years, for a variety of audiences, Mike Tamaki is a charismatic public speaker, specialising key note speaking at Maori tourism and indigenous tourism events. Mike can hold the attention of a crowd in a way that is rarely seen. To enquire about speaking opportunities, please contact us.