Fifty shades of green

Many tourism businesses in New Zealand are making positive changes in sustainability. Whether it is carbon neutrality or contributing positively to the environment, these special businesses have conservation at the core.

Sustainability and conservation have become increasingly important among travellers these days, with the growth in awareness of the environmental impact of travel. New Zealand invites its visitors to become kaitiakitanga, guardians of the place. Ensuring it is maintained and treated in a way that keeps it in a condition for future generations to come, visitors are encouraged to make the Tiaki Promise, an initiative launched by Tourism New Zealand and close partners to invite and encourage visitors to care for the country alongside Kiwis.

Many businesses within New Zealand’s tourism sector are already making positive changes in sustainability. Whether they are carbon-neutral, carbon-positive, or just doing amazing things for the environment, here are top four New Zealand tourism businesses with conservation at their core:

Carino Wildlife Cruises Northland

Carino is the only company in the Bay of Islands to be awarded a Responsible Whale Watching Certificate from the World Cetacean Alliance (the world's largest marine conservation partnership). They offer a variety of cruises for guests to experience and be inspired by the natural environment around them. They actively work with multiple research universities on conservation and research efforts.

Kaitiaki Adventures Rotorua

Kaitiaki Adventures is a globally recognised adventure tourism company specialising in white-water rafting and sledging experiences on the Okere section of the historic Kaituna river. In 2021 they won a Qualmark 100% Pure New Zealand Experience Award owing to their priorities in sustainable tourism and Māori prosperity.

Ziptrek Ecotours Queenstown

Ziptrek Ecotours were the first company in Queenstown to achieve Zero Carbon Business status in 2019. Some of their community and environment initiatives include planting 5000-plus trees, shrubs and grass over the past 10 years on its zipline site at Gondola Hill and around the local area, through the Wakatipu Reforestation Trust, sponsoring Paper4Trees, a waste minimisation and native tree planting programme for NZ schools and preschools and more.

Dive! Tutukaka Northland

Dive Tutukaka operates out of the Tutukaka Marina in the Bay of Islands and focuses its visitor experience around the Poor Knights Islands. It is New Zealand’s largest dive charter company, taking over 12,000 people to the Poor Knights Islands every year on five boats. It has won many awards for environmental and business practices.