February 4, 2014

Potiki Adventures wins prestigious Outdoors NZ Award for 2014

BiancaRanson

SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSWOMAN: Complete with her award, new van and a recently built new office outside her Surfdale home, Bianca Ranson is ready to rock Potiki Adventures to even greater heights.

Bianca Ranson is looking forward to another successful year after running away with a top award. Her business, Potiki Adventures, is the first outdoor adventure tourism company based solely on Maori culture to win the New Zealand Outdoor Awards 2014.

The award is presented annually and was the climax of the week-long World Outdoors Summit in November at the Energy Events Centre, Rotorua. It is attended by leading people in the outdoors tourism industry from New Zealand and abroad.

Bianca is thrilled with the award on its plinth and the framed certificate that goes with it. She had no idea the company was going to get it before the announcement at the formal dinner, which marked the summit’s close. “Both finalists were in the room – Adventure Specialties was the other one. “Potiki is the first Maori organisation to win it. It shows if you get on and do good work, you’ll be recognised. “We’re not massive. It’s a pretty cool acknowledgement for work my staff and I have been doing.”

It is not the only highlight of Bianca’s year. In October, she went off to have dinner with Prince Edward at Windsor Castle in connection with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award. Bianca runs its Bronze, Silver and Gold levels for Maori youngsters and received a grant from the award’s International Special Project’s Fund to run it in Kawerau in the Bay of Plenty. Kawerau teenager Keesha King, who is close to finishing her bronze, went with Bianca to England to speak at the Windsor Castle dinner. It had been organised to raise money from philanthropists for the special projects fund. “The trip to London was awesome,” Bianca says. ” We raised $472,000 on the night in the space of a dinner. It will go to projects all around the world. “Sophie, Prince Edward’s wife, she’s cool and he’s very down to earth. We sat at his table. He’s primo – a really cool guy.” 

Maori television

Bianca Ranson awarded for work with youth: Click here to watch the video

January 18, 2013

The New York Times – Waiheke a must-see for 2013!

Waiheke Island has been dubbed a must-visit destination for 2013 by The New York Times, a tourism coup many would give their eye teeth for. The newspaper noted the island’s vineyards, its proximity to Auckland, and mentions “embracing its bohemian side”. Waiheke Island is situated just 35 minutes by ferry from downtown Auckland. The island is famous for it’s pristine white sand beaches, thriving wine industry and eclectic art scene.

Waiheke was listed alongside other megacities such as Rio de Janiro, Paris and the Republic of Congo. To read the full article: New York Times – The 46 Places to Go in 2013.

To experience all Waiheke has to offer, our day tour Island Maori Experience will introduce you to the beaches, vineyards and local culture, all from an Indigenous Maori perspective. To truly understand the depth and beauty this island has to offer is to experience it with a local Maori guide. To make a booking please contact us.

Waiheke Island