Tūhourangi, Ngāti Wahiao, Ngāti Whakaue Doctoral candidate New Zealand Tourism Research Institute Faculty of Applied Humanities Auckland University of Technology Keri is currently studying towards a PhD in indigenous tourism development in the Faculty of Applied Humanities, AUT University and is a recipient of a NZ Tourism Research Institute/School of Hospitality and Tourism scholarship. Prior to her life as a student, Keri was a ministerial advisor in women’s health policy development and manager of the Auckland Cervical Screening Programme. She completed a Bachelor of Māori Development in 2002 and a Master of Business (Management) graduating in 2007. Her hapū Ngāti Wahiao and Tūhourangi are recognised as two of the nation’s first Māori tourism entrepreneurs and as such her research is specifically positioned within the tourism industry and Māori economic development.