Twin Coast Discovery Tours invites Texans

 

Twin Coast Discovery Tours, an inbound coach touring company headquartered in Mangawhai Heads, launched their tourism initiative on February 1 2018 with a private ribbon cutting event and sneak preview of their promotional video C’Mon DownOver, composed by Kiwi Larry Killip, Taylor Johnson from Hawaii and Twin Coast Discovery Tours. 

Utilizing the Twin Coast Discovery Highway they are offering a customized 8-day Taste of New Zealand Tour to the State of Texas showcasing Auckland City and stunning Northland. Singer/songwriter Cody Sparks from Austin Texas, VIPs and invited guests received a formal Maori welcome to honour the occasion.

Motivational and inspirational speeches were heard from Kaipara acting Mayor Peter Wethey, Far North District Deputy Mayor Tanya McInnes, Paul Davis Northland Inc and Rick Stolwerk, Northland Regional Council. 

Richard Te Haara, COO for the company, welcomed the spirit and passion for the tour from the Auckland and Northland Vendors and the local business community. Support at the event was also received from Tony Collins, CEO of Northland Chamber of Commerce, and Mike Hearn of the USA Chamber of Commerce and NZTA representatives.

Tex-Kiwi Melinda LeCompte from Austin Texas, and Elise Perry from Houston Texas, developed the company logo that proudly wraps their 36 seater coach and believes it will stand the test of time as an internationally recognised image for a high end New Zealand product. The logo is black and white reflecting the traditional colours of New Zealand and Kiwi Pride. It has the North Island positioned exactly as it appears on the world map sitting on a stingray, a symbol of Northland. 

One of the greatest stories of Maori literature recounts the fishing up of the North Island. In some traditions the fish is said to be a patiki (flounder); in others it is a whai (stingray). The stingray is swimming East to West towards the Southern Cross exactly as it appears on the New Zealand flag to preserve history and to clearly locate where you will find New Zealand. This is also the direction of the tour as only the best travel East to West! Its tail is the flight path for Air New Zealand from Houston to Auckland. If you look more closely you will see the Maori warrior and the head of the white lamb.

The company is offering Mini Tours for the next six weeks leaving from Mangawhai and Warkworth until they travel Northland when the Texan guests arrive on the first 8-day Taste of New Zealand tour. A tremendous amount of appreciation is given to the Twin Coast Discovery Tours, Event Concierges and Coach Captains for making the event so successful.

Tourism is all about people, says Richard: He Tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata. 

  




A traditional Maori welcome.
Ceremonial cutting of the ribbon.
Travelling East to West in style.
The Team