Pania Tyson-Nathan is the Chief Executive of New Zealand Māori Tourism (NZMT) and brings over 30 years of leadership in Māori business and economic development. A respected advocate for indigenous enterprise, she has been instrumental—alongside many peers—in elevating Māori tourism as a powerful and distinctive contributor to Aotearoa’s tourism economy.

As Pania notes, “The sector has evolved from simply delivering products to providing immersive experiences—where tourism, trade, and investment now sit at the centre of our export offering and national economy.” She argues that value is left on the table—regardless of who or where you are—if we fail to think holistically about an integrated tourism–trade–investment strategy, grounded in healthy, prosperous communities. Equally, she emphasises that internal and external security, along with enabling policy settings, must be prioritised by all nations if sustainable, inclusive growth is to be achieved.

Pania has been honoured with numerous accolades, including:

• Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (2024) for services to Māori and business
• Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (2018)
• University of Auckland Māori Woman Business Leader Award (2018)
• Te Tupu-ā-Nuku Matariki Award for Business and Innovation (2020)
• Named among the Top 50 Global Tourism Innovators (2021)
• Inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame (2022)