Environmental Practices

New Zealand’s Environment at a glance consists of

• Atmosphere & Climate – our climate shapes & supports our environment, economy and way of life, but it is steadily changing.
• Air – we enjoy good air quality in most places most of the time, however in winter the quality can change due to burning wood/coal for heating.
• Water – our water quality is very good in national parks, native busk and tussock areas, and poorer in high density agricultural and urban areas.
• Energy – Energy sources are renewable or nonrenewable. Renewable and nonrenewable energy sources can be used as primary energy sources to produce useful energy such as heat, or they can be used to produce secondary energy sources such as electricity and hydrogen.
• Land – our land has undergone huge change since people arrived – some 700 -800 years ago, which has affected our biodiversity and land productivity.
• Marine – our marine environment is diverse but changes are affecting our native seabirds and marine mammals

New Zealand has a well-earned reputation world-wide, of being the country with a Clean, Green Image. This has not happened by chance and we owe this environmental image to those who have worked hard to establish and promote this asset. It is now our turn and we sincerely believe, and are proactive in maintaining and improving the protection of our beautiful New Zealand for our children & Mokopuna (grandchildren)

New Zealand’s Ministry of Environment has an overarching goal to make New Zealand – Aotearoa – the most liveable place in the world. To achieve this, they have devised a plan – Click Here to view Govt New Climate Strategy 2024

As part of its response, the Government has developed a climate change strategy that sets out the approach to how it will deliver on New Zealand’s climate goals.

The strategy focuses on five pillars, making sure:

• infrastructure is resilient and communities are well prepared
• credible markets support the climate transition
• clean energy is abundant and affordable
• world-leading climate innovation boosts the economy
• nature-based solutions address climate change

Zealandier Tours chooses to partner with the ministries vision and be proactive in maintaining and improving the protection of our Beautiful New Zealand.

Below are the areas identified where we can make a difference.  Collectively we can ALL make a difference and progress to a Sustainable world.

Monitoring and Reporting Our Major Resource

Our personal carbon footprint is the total output of greenhouse gas emissions caused by ourselves. Some of these are direct – fuel for our cars, rubbish we send to landfill. Some of these are indirect – produced by goods & services we purchase.  The biggest contributors are energy, transport,rubbish & diet.

Resource Usage

Zealandier Tours other major resources are as follows

FUEL 

Zealandier Tours major resource is fuel. We monitor and report on our fuel usage and consumption. This is achieved through measuring kilometers travelled versus fuel consumption as found in each drivers’ logbook.

• We use Google Maps to plan all our tours so we use minimal fuel.
• We have opted to run higher horse-power passenger service vehicles as research has suggested that a powerful engine working at part throttle is more efficient than a lower horse-power engine working at full throttle.
• We have more recently opted to run larger capacity vehicles as it is more kind on the environment to run 1 x 20 seat vehicle then 2 x 10 seaters.
• We keep our vehicles highly maintained to ensure smooth running and less fuel.
• Check our tyre pressures regularly.
• Use a vehicle for personal use –
• Leave the car at home:  Consider other transport options – Is biking or walking an option for your trip? What about public transport? If you do need to take a vehicle, are you able to car pool? Sharing a ride means sharing the emissions and reduces the overall impact, even if just once a week.

WATER 

• Zealandier Tours supports the wise use of water, such as using the local purpose-built car wash for the washing of the vehicles when possible as they have corrected recycling system set up along with correct environmentally friendly products administered at correct quantities. When this is not appropriate and we are required to wash these at home we have water and product efficient equipment which continues to help with further water reduction.
• We use dual flush toilets, spring loaded taps, check and repair for any leaking taps, and are on metered water usage. We advocate the use of a ‘full load’  machine washing for dishes & clothes, and use front loader machines, which are water-use effective.

PAPER / PRINT

• Zealandier Tours choses to use paper manufactured from environmentally responsible forests. We further reduce paper use by double siding and encouraging people to not print their tour vouchers but to save on any electronic device they may be carrying with them on the day of their tour. We print only that which we need for legal requirements, and complete what activity we can either online or through direct phone contact.
• We print our own material/brochures on an as-need basis as opposed to bulk printing and throwing out that which is not used when they become outdated.
• We opt to use recycled/refilled printer ink cartridges: these have proved very satisfactory and cost effective.

ENERGY 

Zealandier Tours encourages all staff to

• Switch off lights and electrical appliances when not using them.
• Switch off computers at wall when not required.
• Make sure all computers/printers have a sleep mode
• Use energy-saving LED light globes.
• Shut doors and close curtains to maintain correct temperature of a room.
• Manage our heating and cooling systems with a heatpump.
• Insulation in the roof and walls .
• Purchase /use energy saving appliances whenever possible

Discharge and Waste

Zealandier Tours employs selective waste disposal to ensure that all material is graded and disposed of through the appropriate channels established.

We have a plastics, recycle, general waste, compost, garden waste and glass waste bins to facilitate these. As well as sensitive document ans or media destruction bin.

Environmentally Sustainable Procurement

Zealandier Tours wherever possible considers the goods we are purchasing and what effect they will have on the environment in the long term.

Common products used by Zealandier Tours are water. Our staff are issued with their company branded re usable water bottles, however it is not laways possible for clients to bring their ouwn water bottles – and we need to keep them hydrated throughout the day so we need to know where we can take them to purchase one whilst they are in NZ.

Coffee cups are another which we encourage clients to purchase their own whilst in NZ.

Paper – is another major purchase product we need to consider.  Most of our office supplies are re cycled wherever possible.

Used electronics are disposed of in the correct collection places close by.

 Customer Engagement on Environmental Positioning and Advocacy

Zealandier Tours introduces, explains, and promotes to their customers the importance and value we place on our environment. We take our guests to cafes or restaurants where they use re-usable crockery and cutlery instead of throw-away plates, we stress the importance of remaining on the designated tracks when we are guiding them through our native land, and to not pick or damage our flora or fauna in any way.

Zealandier Tours provides a smoke-free environment, keeping our air as clean as possible, and as pleasant as possible for our groups as an entirety. We ensure there is no rubbish left behind, with our guides picking this up if required.

 Assets and the Environment

Zealandier Tours owns several vehicles which have differing capacities & purposes. They are all fit for purpose of providing a great days touring. These vehicles are extremely well maintained and presented. Due to tourism being predominantly a seasonal business and as we are not directly involved as a transport company we tend to hire or lease vehicles short term over the peak times. These lease vehicles are very late model and extremely safe and environmentally friendly. We are very fortunate to have such a fantastic favorable company to partner with in this regard. Vehicles can be looked upon as assets and or liabilities – when they become  a liability is time to get  a new one.

 Investments and Enhancements to our Environment

Zealandier Tours views all environmental facets as important, and protection of our lush Native Flora and Fauna rates particularly high on our agenda. With our interest and involvement with tourism this is very important, and we take every reasonable step to preserve this heritage. We highly value the work that DOC undertakes and contribute to this work where possible.

Zealandier Tours has been involved with “Trees for Survival” – this particular initiative involves a local school with a Growing Unit for plants that will be used for protection of the Sand Dunes in our area.

Zealandier Tours is now following the progress of Coast Care restoration program facilitated by Prue Sisam in the Bay of Plenty.

Zealandier Tours are currently involved with Otorohanga Kiwi House – Adopt a Critter program which supplies special care needed for breeding programs and conservation

Zealandier Tours is currently involved with Sanctuary Mountain – Maungatautari. As an ongoing financial supporter, we are called their Kaitiaki (Guardians) As donors we have become part of Te Manawa o Maungatautari – the Heart of Maungatautari. We are helping to protect this precious eco-system for the future.

Zealandier Tours partners and supports New Zealand Forest and Bird association – which protects our native plants, animals & wild places.

We have staff that are involved in their local area Landcare Groups, simultaneously planting natives along designated hiking tracks to provide ground stability, shelter, and shade.

Kaitiakitanga

Zealandier Tours in the above examples can be seen to be taking a guardianship or ownership, and protection of not only their local area but also that which pertains to all of New Zealand. We do not turn a blind-eye to others ‘trespassing’ this quality, be that the destruction of plantations, pollution of water ways, or upsetting wildlife. We nurture what we have for the generations to follow.

Historic New Zealand

Zealandier Tours promotes awareness of New Zealand’s history and cultural context through the narrative that is provided throughout our tours, and the locations and attractions that we utilize. For example, a number of our tours include, if not central to, one of our cultural experience attractions, be that of Whakarewarewa Living Village, or Te Puia Maori Cultural Centre and traditional Arts & Crafts Institute.  We travel the journey and tell the story of one of the original Waka – Arawa – on its journey from Bay of Plenty to Rotorua.

Cultural Hosting

Zealandier Tours caters for a variety of cultures and cultural needs, as well as special interest groups such as the Church. We have on call Spanish & German speaking guides if the groups are pre- booked in advance.

We are able to provide hassle-free special dietary requirements that may come with various beliefs, prayer times to be adhered to if necessary, and walking cautiously around the issues of political talk.

Manaakitanga

Zealandier Tours inspires a sense of welcoming, friendliness, and respect, in word and action to their guests. This is demonstrated in the way we first connect with our prospective customers through email communication, through to greeting them on the morning of their tour, and throughout the time we have with them. We regularly receive feedback in regard to how friendly and hospitable, helpful and welcoming, our staff and guides are, which often leads to referrals for further business.