The History of Ki Tai

Starting from it's humble beginnings

1997 › ESTABLISHMENT

1997

Tira Hoe Waka

Ash Patea and his father Gerald partake in their first Tira Hoe Waka (Annual Iwi River Pilgrimage)

2001

Taumarunui to Whanganui

After years of Ash being a roady (child on the road) when he turned 12 he got on the river to paddle from Taumarunui to Whanganui for the first time.

2005

Asked to steer

After a number of years participating on the Tira Hoe Waka, Ash was asked to steer a 6 man waka for the first time from Taumarunui to Whanganui

2007

First paid commercial river tour

Ash guided on his first paid commercial river tour under the guidance of Niko Tangaroa and his business, Waka Tours.

2008

Guided river tours for youth

Ash and Toiora facilitated and guided river tours for a youth development programme run through Hinengākau Development Trust under the mantle of their aunty Di Ngarongo

2011

BA Productions was set

After years of guiding along the Whanganui River BA Productions was set up formally to administrate the beginnings of Ki Tai’s very own river operations. At this time, BA Productions was already running education programmes across schools in Whanganui.

2012

Very first commercial job

Ki Tai hosted it’s very first commercial job taking māori youth from ‘Taimaru’ for a 3 day experience down the river. This saw Ki Tai fitted firstly with top quality gear to host more of this type of experience.

2013

Earlham College

Under the guidance of other māori owned operators since 2008, Ash has guided on every journey that Earlham College has partaken on the Whanganui River. It was this year that Ki Tai formally took on the task of providing cultural experiences for Earlham and maintaining a well respected partnership with the College.

2014

Expansion and Awards

Through persistance and effort building up a business, Ki Tai’s team grew to having just over 12 people on the Riverguide list. It also successfully achieved the Adventure Mark Certification to operate commercially and within the law.

2015

Yeti Tours

Ki Tai formalised a relationship with Yeti Tours, an operator who’s commitment to the Whanganui River people is seen through his desire to employ local riverguides with cultural knowledge.

2016

New horizons

Ki Tai has set new horizons. Continueing in partnership with Yeti Tours, revamped traditional 6 man canadian canoes, new 2 man canoes and a 20 man māori waka in its fleet expand the future horizons to provide more cultural experiences for locals, visitors, tourists and more.

The most exciting part is the development of an experiential curriculum that will provide a basis for schools to achieve educational outcomes whilst still enjoying the mystical Whanganui River.

PRESENT