Mõhio Tours is owned and run by Melissa Crockett. She is a mixture of Maori descent (Iwi: Nga Puhi, Hapu: Ngati Kahu & Te Rarawa) and Pakeha (white New Zealander). She's passionate about the breathtaking natural environment of Aotearoa (New Zealand), Maori culture and art.

Melissa's background is varied, but includes working as a theatre producer, charity fundraiser, personnel consultant and educator. She grew up living on Taipa beach in the Far North of New Zealand before moving to Auckland to study at the University of Auckland – focusing on Education studies and Maori Art & Traditional Culture.

In late 2003 Melissa began researching the tourism industry in order to set up the outdoor adventure tourism company Potiki Adventures (with another young Maori woman). This company ran very successfully for six years before the tourism side was rebranded as Mõhio Tours – with Melissa as the sole Director. Finally, to acknowledge the growth and new directions of the company, it has been rebranded as Mõhio Tours – click here to learn more.

In 2006 Melissa was named the 'PATA Young Tourism Professional' at the Tourism Industry Association of NZ National Tourism Awards. She is the first Maori, the first woman and the youngest person to have won this award.

Melissa also won two awards in the 2007 Business Women of the Year Awards. The awards were for 'Best New Business' and 'Outstanding Business Citizenship'. With former business partner Bianca Ranson, she also shared the title of 'Maori Business Women of the Year' in 2007 at the National Maori Business Awards – for more details see Awards & Accolades.

Melissa has been actively involved in voluntary roles with both the Maori and tourism community. She was the Chairperson of the Te Rakau Hua O Te Wao Tapu Maori Theatre Trust (which works with high risk Maori teenagers) from 2003–2008, was the Deputy Chairperson of the Auckland Maori Regional Tourism Organisation and served as a Councillor on the National Maori Tourism Council 2008–2010. Additionally Melissa volunteers her fundraising, marketing and business advising expertise for a number of Maori artists and Maori businesses. Her particular passions are for promoting Maori art and encouraging young people to be proud of their culture.

Ko Nga Puhi toku Iwi
Ko Ngati Kahu me Te Rarawa toku Hapu
Ko Mamaru toku Waka
Ko Maungataniwha toku Maunga
Ko Tokerau toku Moana
Ko Oruru toku Awa
Ko Peria toku Rohe
Ko Te Kauhanga toku Marae
Ko Kareko toku Ingoa Whanau
Ko Melissa Crockett ahau.

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