Te Kapinga (TK) Taylor (Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Mahuta) is in the business of cruising the majestic Waikato River. His business, Cruise Waikato, launched their new boat, Te Awa Kuini (The River Queen), on 25 September 2009 and since then they have been busy sharing the beauty of the river with tourists and locals alike.

Scenic cruises on the river depart daily from Memorial Park and Hamilton Gardens. “I was in the fast lane travelling and working a lot here and overseas. I needed to reconnect back to the whenua. I knew I was passionate about nature, the environment and my culture so I started a Kāwhia Harbour tour,” says TK Taylor.

“We bought the Lady Kāwhia to share the history of our tupuna with everyone, and with Te Awa Kuini we wish to provide this service and a lot more,” he says.

Cruise Waikato offers many types of cruise options including a scenic cruise, history cruise, coffee and muffin cruise, sausage sizzle and coffee cruise, history and hangi cruise, and tailored private group functions. Earlier in the year TK decided he needed to develop his business further and he approached Te Puni Kōkiri’s Māori Business Facilitation Service, who put him in touch with a professional mentor. “Te Puni Kōkiri is there for people like myself. We needed all the support we could get and Te Puni Kōkiri has been good logistically, including the priceless marketing advice,” says TK Taylor.

TK is looking to expand his business by building a strong working relationship with iwi, hapū and marae to provide a complete Māori tourism package for all. He is also looking into other opportunities including kayaking the Waikato river.

If you haven’t seen Hamilton from the river, you haven’t really seen Hamilton, according to the Cruise Waikato brochure. For more information visit: http://www.waikatoexplorer.co.nz/.