-
Whakarewarewa
While the village and the people of Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao have long been on the forefront of tourism, their website was dated and no longer achieving acceptable results. Built on a closed-source CMS it was expensive to update and maintain, and had become slow and clunky.
The Maverick Digital team wanted to provide a website that was beautiful, fast, and captured the character of this uniquely New Zealand experience.
Designed for Whakarewarewa
2018 was a year of updates for Whakarewarewa, with the team there working to overhaul their branding through a new logo, new headline font, and completely new print collateral. This gave us an exciting framework to base the new designs off, helping to build the character of the villages online presence for years to come.
There was a lot we wanted to capture within the design of Whakarewarewa’s new website. As New Zealand’s only living Maori village the history, culture and stories of the village had to shine through, but we also wanted to emphasise the elements that overseas guests would remember with the bubbling blue geothermal pools and rising steam.
The final design – 100% unique and custom to Whakarewarewa on every page – heroes the experience of visiting the village itself. Billowing steam, native gardens, and inquisitive puekeko frame the story and history of this tourism icon.
Open source, built for longevity
One of the biggest weaknesses of the existing Whakarewarewa website was the closed-source platform that it was built on. Any changes to content had to be actioned by the agency who built it, with every change incurring a cost. This practice, while common, sits in direct opposition to the Maverick ethos. If its your website, you should have full access and control to change what you want.
Whakarewarewa’s new website was built on WordPress 4.9, and updated to 5.0 upon launch. WordPress still gets some flack from digital dinosaurs who see it as a blogging platform, but they couldn’t be more wrong. WordPress is the single most popular CMS in the world, used on 52% of the top million websites by traffic, and 32% of the top ten thousand. Known for its flexibility, ease of use, and fantastic developer support, WordPress is the obvious choice for most NZ Tourism operators, and definitely for Whakarewarewa in this case.
Lightning fast and conversion-driven
Any discussion with the web build team at Maverick is going to include load performance. Anyone browsing on a slow connection knows that a heavy, slow page is likely to get abandoned. This is especially true in tourism, where international roaming connections are notoriously bad.
Whakarewarewa was built to be lightning fast, despite the large amount of imagery and even video used on the site. There is no longer an excuse for slow sites, and the lighting fast load times for Whakarewarewa prove this.
#MAVERICKTOURISM
Throwback Thursday to our tourist takeover at the B:HIVE for Halloween last month 👻 We may work in tourism, but this year, we took the role seriously and dressed up as stereotypical (and scarily-realistic!) tourists: Hawaiian shirts, cameras in hand, and snapping photos at every chance we got!
#Tourismindustry #DigitalMarketing #BooHive #Halloween2024
Throwback Thursday to our tourist takeover at the B:HIVE for Halloween last month 👻 We may work in tourism, but this year, we took the role seriously and dressed up as stereotypical (and scarily-realistic!) tourists: Hawaiian shirts, cameras in hand, and snapping photos at every chance we got!
#Tourismindustry #DigitalMarketing #BooHive #Halloween2024
📢 One week to go until Destination: Digital - The Playbook kicks off, and this is your LAST chance to secure a spot at Aotearoa`s only conference dedicated to tourism marketers!
The buzz is building, and the final tickets are flying out the door. Don`t just take our word for it - check out what last year`s attendees had to say 👇
Get ready for game-changing insights from expert industry thought-leaders, and interactive practical workshops to set you up for success in 2025. It`s all taking place at the @bhivenz in Auckland next Tuesday, 3rd December.
🎟️ Grab your tickets before they`re all gone: link in bio!
#TourismMarketing #NZmarketing #MarketingEvents #TourismIndustry
📢 One week to go until Destination: Digital - The Playbook kicks off, and this is your LAST chance to secure a spot at Aotearoa`s only conference dedicated to tourism marketers!
The buzz is building, and the final tickets are flying out the door. Don`t just take our word for it - check out what last year`s attendees had to say 👇
Get ready for game-changing insights from expert industry thought-leaders, and interactive practical workshops to set you up for success in 2025. It`s all taking place at the @bhivenz in Auckland next Tuesday, 3rd December.
🎟️ Grab your tickets before they`re all gone: link in bio!
#TourismMarketing #NZmarketing #MarketingEvents #TourismIndustry
Final chance to grab an Earlybird ticket for Destination: Digital 📣
On our ‘From Insight to Impact’ panel, you’ll hear from data-driven decision makers Rachel Howie (RealNZ), Shaun Fitzgibbon (TRA), and Sarah Britton (nee Short) (Tourism New Zealand), who’ll bring a diverse range of perspectives on how you can leverage data to shape marketing strategies, identify emerging trends, and build high-impact campaigns.
As NZ’s only conference dedicated to tourism marketers, it’s a day all about equipping our industry with the latest tactics and techniques for your digital toolboxes. Now all that’s missing is you - see you on Tuesday December 3 (the day prior to TEC Xmas Symposium) at the B:Hive in Auckland. Grab an earlybird ticket before 5pm today 👉 link in bio.
Final chance to grab an Earlybird ticket for Destination: Digital 📣
On our ‘From Insight to Impact’ panel, you’ll hear from data-driven decision makers Rachel Howie (RealNZ), Shaun Fitzgibbon (TRA), and Sarah Britton (nee Short) (Tourism New Zealand), who’ll bring a diverse range of perspectives on how you can leverage data to shape marketing strategies, identify emerging trends, and build high-impact campaigns.
As NZ’s only conference dedicated to tourism marketers, it’s a day all about equipping our industry with the latest tactics and techniques for your digital toolboxes. Now all that’s missing is you - see you on Tuesday December 3 (the day prior to TEC Xmas Symposium) at the B:Hive in Auckland. Grab an earlybird ticket before 5pm today 👉 link in bio.
After just 8 months of dazzling us all with her epic energy, enthusiasm and quick learning; our superstar PT, @emi.cross, has been promoted to our Digital Performance Executive and we couldn`t be prouder! 🚀
From navigating the tourism industry to crafting Google and Meta campaigns, Emi has truly embraced the world of paid media like a pro 👏👏👏
#Promotion #DigitalMarketing #TourismIndustry #NZ
After just 8 months of dazzling us all with her epic energy, enthusiasm and quick learning; our superstar PT, @emi.cross, has been promoted to our Digital Performance Executive and we couldn`t be prouder! 🚀
From navigating the tourism industry to crafting Google and Meta campaigns, Emi has truly embraced the world of paid media like a pro 👏👏👏
#Promotion #DigitalMarketing #TourismIndustry #NZ
As our trip down Maverick memory lane continues, we`re shining a light on the highlights of 2020 and 2021. It was the years that a certain large global event threw a few surprises into the mix - and when our mantra quickly became Keep Calm and Carry On.
While international borders were closed, domestic demand remained strong and we worked alongside clients to encourage Kiwis to explore their big backyards.
We ran free weekly webinars to offer tips, tricks and tactics to the industry to pivot and drive conversions from the domestic market - and we shared our Maverick magic with tons of tourism businesses as part of the Qualmark Digital Capability programme.
🔒 Lockdowns (remember those?!) brought us together online
🐳 We kicked off our partnership with Destination Kaikōura
👩✈️ We dressed up as Top Gun fighter pilots for our team photoshoot
🌲 We climbed new partnership heights with Redwoods Treewalk
🛶 Team day saw us paddle to Rangitoto and enjoy a sunset BBQ
We all have our memories of the pandemic years - and for us, working hard to help our clients survive and thrive was a real source of pride.
Looking back, this time was key in building our resilience and agility - and helping to lay the foundations for next chapter of Maverick (more on that next week!)
#nztravel #digitalmarketing #tourismbusiness #workanniversary
As our trip down Maverick memory lane continues, we`re shining a light on the highlights of 2020 and 2021. It was the years that a certain large global event threw a few surprises into the mix - and when our mantra quickly became Keep Calm and Carry On.
While international borders were closed, domestic demand remained strong and we worked alongside clients to encourage Kiwis to explore their big backyards.
We ran free weekly webinars to offer tips, tricks and tactics to the industry to pivot and drive conversions from the domestic market - and we shared our Maverick magic with tons of tourism businesses as part of the Qualmark Digital Capability programme.
🔒 Lockdowns (remember those?!) brought us together online
🐳 We kicked off our partnership with Destination Kaikōura
👩✈️ We dressed up as Top Gun fighter pilots for our team photoshoot
🌲 We climbed new partnership heights with Redwoods Treewalk
🛶 Team day saw us paddle to Rangitoto and enjoy a sunset BBQ
We all have our memories of the pandemic years - and for us, working hard to help our clients survive and thrive was a real source of pride.
Looking back, this time was key in building our resilience and agility - and helping to lay the foundations for next chapter of Maverick (more on that next week!)
#nztravel #digitalmarketing #tourismbusiness #workanniversary
As we continue reflecting on a decade of Maverick, today we`re throwing it back to 2019 - a year filled with fun, adventures, and a bit of mischief.
This was the year we kicked off our first themed photoshoot in goofy bowling whites, #justbecause!
We had an epic team day at @ecozip_adventures, zipping through the trees then using their awesome conference facilities to plan world domination.
2019 also saw Tim and Alex heading down to Rotorua to onboard @offroadnzrotorua - just look at Tim sizing up that impressive 7-metre drop on their awesome 4WD Bush Safari product 😱 Five years on and we`re still proud as punch to work with Ian, Carol and the team.
To top it all off, we threw a fabulous birthday bash to mark five fantastic years in business with some of our favourite tourism friends. Time flies when you`re having fun! 🙌
#nztravel #digitalmarketing #tourismbusiness #workanniversary
As we continue reflecting on a decade of Maverick, today we`re throwing it back to 2019 - a year filled with fun, adventures, and a bit of mischief.
This was the year we kicked off our first themed photoshoot in goofy bowling whites, #justbecause!
We had an epic team day at @ecozip_adventures, zipping through the trees then using their awesome conference facilities to plan world domination.
2019 also saw Tim and Alex heading down to Rotorua to onboard @offroadnzrotorua - just look at Tim sizing up that impressive 7-metre drop on their awesome 4WD Bush Safari product 😱 Five years on and we`re still proud as punch to work with Ian, Carol and the team.
To top it all off, we threw a fabulous birthday bash to mark five fantastic years in business with some of our favourite tourism friends. Time flies when you`re having fun! 🙌
#nztravel #digitalmarketing #tourismbusiness #workanniversary
Today, we’re reminiscing about 2018 – a real milestone year for Maverick! 🌟 2018 saw us kick off our partnership with the legendary @hobbitontours, an absolute business highlight. Collaborating with such an iconic operator brought our passion and know-how for tourism marketing to life in a whole new way. 2018 was also the year we were lucky enough to add Kelly Hookey to the team – six years later, Kel is one of our longest-serving Mavericks and leads our powerhouse Performance team.
#DigitalMarketing #ThrowbackThursday #WorkAnniversary #NZbusiness
Today, we’re reminiscing about 2018 – a real milestone year for Maverick! 🌟 2018 saw us kick off our partnership with the legendary @hobbitontours, an absolute business highlight. Collaborating with such an iconic operator brought our passion and know-how for tourism marketing to life in a whole new way. 2018 was also the year we were lucky enough to add Kelly Hookey to the team – six years later, Kel is one of our longest-serving Mavericks and leads our powerhouse Performance team.
#DigitalMarketing #ThrowbackThursday #WorkAnniversary #NZbusiness
Today we’re throwing it back to 2014, where Maverick’s journey began 🌍✈️ After working at Tourism New Zealand, Founder Alex Dykman left for an OE in South America – collaborating with a bunch of awesome kiwi operators on all things marketing along the way. Curating digital strategies, social media plans and paid media campaigns in between exploring the Galapagos Islands and hiking in the Andes – now that’s work/life balance😉
After returning home, Alex set up Maverick Digital officially, and the rest is history. From humble beginnings to helping tourism smash digital in New Zealand, the USA, Canada and the South Pacific - we’re celebrating a decade in business! Here’s to many more years of innovation and adventure in tourism marketing.
#maverickturns10 #tourism #newzealand #marketing #throwbackthursday
Today we’re throwing it back to 2014, where Maverick’s journey began 🌍✈️ After working at Tourism New Zealand, Founder Alex Dykman left for an OE in South America – collaborating with a bunch of awesome kiwi operators on all things marketing along the way. Curating digital strategies, social media plans and paid media campaigns in between exploring the Galapagos Islands and hiking in the Andes – now that’s work/life balance😉
After returning home, Alex set up Maverick Digital officially, and the rest is history. From humble beginnings to helping tourism smash digital in New Zealand, the USA, Canada and the South Pacific - we’re celebrating a decade in business! Here’s to many more years of innovation and adventure in tourism marketing.
#maverickturns10 #tourism #newzealand #marketing #throwbackthursday
Cheers to an epic Hospitality New Zealand conference in Ōtautahi Christchurch 🥂
#conference #networking #hospitality #wearemaverick
Cheers to an epic Hospitality New Zealand conference in Ōtautahi Christchurch 🥂
#conference #networking #hospitality #wearemaverick
We can whip up a Google Ad, witty caption or SEO audit - easy peasy 🍋
Turns out us Mavericks can whip up a pretty tasty feast too! 👩🍳
@maincoursenz #teambonding #cookoff #masterchef #teamday #wearemaverick
We can whip up a Google Ad, witty caption or SEO audit - easy peasy 🍋
Turns out us Mavericks can whip up a pretty tasty feast too! 👩🍳
@maincoursenz #teambonding #cookoff #masterchef #teamday #wearemaverick
Lets Talk
Ready to connect?
We're a team of tourism and digital experts who hang our hats on doing high impact work that affects your bottom line.
