About Me
Graeme has led a number of New Zealand’s pre-eminent tourism businesses and played a leading role in the regional tourism organisation sector, examples include:
- General Manager of Tourism Holdings North Island Activities (to include Kelly Tarlton’s, Waitomo Glow-worm Caves & Hotel)
- Chief Executive and Director of New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute (a Crown-owned entity)
- Director and Chief Executive of Tourism Auckland (A council-controlled organisation)
- Chairman of Hamilton & Waikato Tourism
- Director of Destination Coromandel
Graeme has been involved in a number of significant tourism projects, many of which depended on collaborative partnerships and demanded innovative problem solving, these projects included:
- Foundation Chairman of the Hauraki Rail Trail
- The business recovery of the New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute
- The build and commissioning of Blue Zoo Beijing
- The concept design, build and commissioning of the Antarctic Encounter at Kelly Tarlton’s
- Lead on the establishment of the Convention Activity Survey for the Ministry of Tourism
- Elected industry Director of the Tourism Industry Association
- Foundation Chairman of the Regional Tourism Organisations of New Zealand (RTONZ)
- Established Tamaki Hikoi (from concept to commissioning)
- Tourism New Zealand appointed Director for the establishment of i-SITE New Zealand.
- Peer review of the Gold Discovery Centre (Hauraki District Council)
- Provided advice to iwi in relation to the Eastland Destination Management Plan
- Provided advice and support to New Zealand Maori Tourism in relation to strategic partnerships
- As Director of Manukau Leisure Services, unified a number of Council assets into a single cohesive Council Controlled Organisation that delivered significant gains in services and efficiencies.