John Barrett is the managing director and founder of Kapiti Island Nature Tours- and Nature Lodge, a family operated tourism business located on one of New Zealand’s premier nature reserves – Kapiti Island.

John whakapapa’s to Ngati Raukawa, Te Ati Awa and Ngati Toarangatira. He has 35 + years of management and governance experience in a range of private and public organisations and enterprises, and is currently active as a founding member on the Leadership Council of WINTA- World Indigenous Tourism Alliance- Recently retired Director of Tourism NZ, NZ’s tourism marketing organisation- Past Chair of NZ Maori Tourism Council, Past Member Te Mana Whakahaere -Te Waananga o Raukawa and currently Chair of Raukawa Whanau Ora Ltd and member of Ati Awa ki Whakarongotai’s Taiao Komiti.

Not surprisingly, John’s interests (when time away from whanau, and the whanau business permits) are; nature based tourism, Maori and International indigenous tourism development- local/regional economic development- Indigenous higher education and conservation practice and education.

John’s strong ambition for TWOR Foundation, is to enable ART uri the opportunity to reach their full potential through strengthening education and Iwi /whanau relationships.