Member News

Craft Beer Tours NZ Amps Up Sustainability Initiatives

20 Jan 2022

Mike Henderson from Craft Beer Tours NZ joined the WellingtonNZ Sustainable Tourism Capability Project in June of 2021. His business conducts brewery tours across the Wellington Region and now incorporates sustainability into all aspects of his business.

East by West Ferry Champions Social Cause

20 Jan 2022

The East by West Ferry joined the Wellington Tourism Capability Programme in 2021. With the introduction of their new electric ferry service imminent, the ferry company turned to look at other areas of impact:

TSS Earnslaw - Decarbonising and preserving 109 years of heritage

18 Oct 2021

A feasibility study is under way to investigate whether the TSS Earnslaw can become carbon neutral or carbon zero whilst conserving her proud heritage.

RealNZ Cruise-for-a-Cause raises almost $30,000

RealNZ Cruise-for-a-Cause has raised almost $30,000 to help schoolchildren continue to learn about their natural heritage at sought-after school camp.

#WellbeingForWhakatipu partnership launched

Ziptrek Ecotours and the Southern Wellbeing Trust have partnered with other likeminded local small businesses to launch #WellbeingForWhakatipu.

KiwiRail gets world-first green loan certification for new ferries

KiwiRail’s $350m loan facility to finance the purchase of two new Interislander ferries has become the first shipping loan in the world to be certified by the Climate Bond Initiative.

Promoting and encouraging an accessible and inclusive Queenstown

Over the last few months, DQ has been reviewing and enriching the Accessible Queenstown online resource on queenstownNZ.nz for visitors with access needs.

Air NZ and MBIE scope out Sustainable Aviation Fuel industry

Air New Zealand’s journey to net-zero has reached another significant milestone with the airline and MBIE joining forces to bring Sustainable Aviation Fuel one step closer to becoming a reality.

Southern hemisphere’s first electric ferry launched in Wellington

August 2021

The first fully electric, high speed passenger ferry in the southern hemisphere was officially launched today in Wellington, where the locally built vessel will sail commuters across Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

GO Electric with GO Rentals

You can now tour the South Island of New Zealand in a Tesla and support tourism businesses leading the way in sustainability along your journey.

Queenstown tourism operator wins coveted global award

Queenstown-based Altitude Tours has been named the Top Wine Experience in the world by travel website Tripadvisor.

Queenstown Airport introduces Sunflower Lanyards to support those with hidden disabilities

People with disabilities travelling through Queenstown Airport can now do so a little easier thanks to the introduction of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme.

Tree planting as part of employee's onboarding – #TiakiChampions

Ziptrek Ecotours began their native tree-planting project on Bob’s Peak 11 years ago. Since then, the eco-tour operator has planted over 5000 native trees and scrubs.

Tourism podcast focuses on regenerative tourism - #TiakiChampions

GOOD Awaits - The Regenerative Tourism New Zealand podcast is a platform for the collective discovery of what regenerative tourism means and to prompt discussion around how operators, travellers and tourism stakeholders can fulfil our commitment to the Tiaki Promise.

Active Adventures guides give back - #TiakiChampions

The guides at Active Adventures would normally be working flat out guiding visitors around beautiful Aotearoa on small group adventures. "But because we can’t currently give them enough work, they’ve put their efforts into giving back instead," says CEO Wendy van Lieshout. 

Social adventure group teaches all-round respect - #TiakiChampions

Got To Get Out is a domestic-tourism focused social enterprise adventure group involved in a number of projects that 'get Kiwis experiencing their back yard'. When they sell tickets to their paid-for trips, which include hiking, biking, overnight weekends and ski trips, they also gift tickets to youth in need. 

THL team plants native trees as trail run prizes - #TiakiChampions

Tourism Holdings Limited's Auckland team headed down to Waitomo for a day to plant 1500 native trees at Stubbs Farm.

EcoZip donates $8k for native tree planting - #TiakiChampions

Waiheke’s EcoZip Adventures has contributed $8000 towards the purchase of 1400 native trees for planting in seven wetland areas across the island.

James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor joins Living Wage movement

Wellington’s iconic James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor is joining the movement to pay the living wage to all their employees, one of the first non-MIQ hotels in New Zealand to do so.

Arrowtown’s long lunch provides for its community

Arrowtown Promotion and Business Association has donated the profits made at Arrowtown’s Long Lunch to two worthy causes.