Who we are
About the Company
Maori Trails is a luxury boutique inbound operator who works exclusively with the travel trade. Our clients are tour operators, travel agents and travel wholesalers around the world, with whom we enjoy long lasting, personal relations.
Founded to fill a gap in delivering extraordinary experiences in New Zealand, Maori Trails’ main goal is to provide overseas visitors with a visual experience, often hidden from the main tourism maps or what other travel companies often neglect. Maori Trails was founded on the principle ‘to showcase the best and finest of New Zealand through our eyes’.
Maori Trails focuses on delivering unique, local and authentic New Zealand experiences that go beyond the trodden paths. With a broad range of accommodation and activity options, we have carefully handpicked exquisite lodges, boutique hotels and retreats, along with unique experiences that often are not available to the general public. Blended all together and you will find a plethora of travel options to chose from, crafted they way you like it, routes that surpass your wildest imagination, as our decades of travel experience come into play for that additional quality touch.
Our Mission Statement
Our Mission is to offer tailor made travel arrangements within New Zealand to help international travelers to connect with locals and to immerse in experiences of true, authentic New Zealand. We believe traveling should be about connecting with people, generating emotions and to explore off the beaten tracks. Maori Trails arranges local experiences as unique and luxury as our clients want it.
About the Founder
Claudio F. Kellenberger, a Swiss National and a New Zealand permanent resident, has spent his entire professional life in the tourism industry. Starting as a counter clerk at Switzerland’s largest tour operator, his career has led him to various positions for major international tour operators in Europe, South America and South East Asia. Having held different senior management positions in South East Asia for one of Asia’s leading Destination Management Companies in Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand over the course of 10 years, Claudio decided in 2016 that he probably had gathered enough experience and that it is time to start something smaller but that would be he his own.
The Tiaki Promise
Maori Trails proudly supports the Tiaki Promise. New Zealand is precious, and everyone who lives and travels here has responsibility to look after it. The Tiaki Promise is a commitment to care for New Zealand, for now and our future generations.
In New Zealand we welcome manuhiri (guests) in the spirit of manaakitanga (respect, kindness and hospitality). Hear our call. Feel welcome.
We also present our visitors with a wero (challenge). This wero is a challenge and commitment to care for New Zealand. This wero is the Tiaki promise.
We encourage all visitors to pick up this wero. To follow the Tiaki Promise. To act as a guardian, protecting and preserving our home.