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Culprit or not? 

What is cultural commodification?

It is basically packaging culture for sale, making culture into a commodity. An example would be the establishment of historical parks and the development of a tourist industry around the park.   

After analyzing the positive and the negative impacts that tourism has brought about in New Zealand's social culture, economic and environment, I strongly agree that tourism is a contributing factor in commodifying cultures and traditions in New Zealand.

The Maori culture was once an untouched culture in New Zealand. However, due to the increasing demand for indigenous tourism in New Zealand, more and more travel packages to New Zealand are including visits to heritage villages and other kinds of cultural destination that features the Maori heritage. Tourists who visit Maori cultural site would also like to bring home local Maori products in memory of the visit and hence these demands lead to the commodification of the Maori culture into products. Hence, souvenir shops are set up in heritage villages to suit the demands of tourist where tourist can buy local handmade crafts and small replicas of the Moko back to their home country. 

Hence, I would conclude that tourism is the culprit in commodifying cultures and traditions