BUSINESS CONCEPT #319 - VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) TOURISM HUB
Creating immersive, remote experiences of wāhi tapu (sacred sites) that generate revenue without requiring physical foot traffic, protecting sensitive sites from erosion.
Executive Summary
This venture develops a high-fidelity digital platform to provide immersive, remote access to Te Tai Tokerau’s most sensitive and sacred landscapes. It serves the global education and armchair travel markets, generating revenue while ensuring the physical whenua remains untouched and protected.
The Problem & Solution
The Problem: Overtourism at wāhi tapu (sacred sites) leads to physical erosion, environmental entropy, and the risk of degrading the spiritual integrity of the land.
The Solution: We provide an "Original Participation" experience through high-resolution VR. By creating digital twins of these sites, we allow guests to observe and engage with our stories without the physical footprint that causes ecological and cultural decline.
Target Market
Global "Armchair Travellers": Individuals seeking deep cultural connection from their homes.
International Universities and Schools: Institutions looking for authentic, indigenous-led educational content.
Digital Heritage Platforms: Partners in the museum and tech sectors focused on cultural preservation.
Unique Value Proposition (UVP)
We offer "Sovereign Observation." Unlike standard VR tours, our narratives are governed by a Kaitiakitanga License, ensuring that the mana of the story remains with the local hapū. We use "Deep Spirit" and "Hard Data" to ensure every digital element reflects the true wairua of the site.
Revenue Model
Pay-Per-View Access: Individual digital ticket sales for specific immersive site modules.
Institutional Licensing: Annual subscriptions for schools and universities to access our "Digital Whenua" archive.
Corporate Sponsorship: Partnering with ethical tech firms to showcase the "Universal Explainer" capability of indigenous knowledge.
Marketing & Channels
Global Tech Partnerships: Collaboration with VR hardware providers to feature our content as a premier cultural experience.
Educational Outreach: Direct engagement with international curricula focused on indigenous studies and environmental ethics.
30-60-90 Day Milestones
30 Days: Secure a partnership with a local hapū to pilot the first wāhi tapu digital capture.
60 Days: Complete high-resolution 3D laser scanning and record the oral histories for the narrative layer.
90 Days: Launch the first "Mauri Certified" VR portal for a global beta-testing group.
Mauri Score Assessment
Te Taiao (Environment): +2. By removing the physical footprint of tourism, we stop erosion and protect the delicate ecosystems of our most sacred sites.
Te Ahurea (Culture): +2. We preserve the spiritual integrity of wāhi tapu by controlling observation and ensuring data sovereignty over our ancestral stories.
Te Tangata (Social): +1. Rangatahi are trained as "Digital Tohunga," mastering the technology of 3D scanning and virtual storytelling.
Te Pūtea (Economic): +1. Creates a high-margin digital export that repatriates wealth to the local hapū without the overhead of physical infrastructure.
