Nature / Sustainable Tourism

Visitors to Kapiti Island, just north of Wellington, can now experience the conservation in a new way with the opening of a day track at the island’s northern end.

Little Barrier Island, one of New Zealand's premier nature reserves, will become home to 60 free roaming tuatara.

A major milestone has been reached for the royal albatross colony at Taiaroa Head, after the 500th chick hatched on 26 January 2007.

The Hukawai Glacier Centre, complete with its 10 metre high indoor ice-climbing wall, opens to the public on 1 March 2007.

The Kiwi Encounter centre in Rotorua has reached a milestone by hatching the 100th Kiwi chick for the 2006/2007 season.

From early 2008, passengers on Air New Zealand flights will be invited to pay a few extra dollars to offset their carbon footprint.

A New Zealand initiative to establish a World Heritage Starlight Reserve is underway, with 2009 as the goal for the Lake Takapo and Aoraki Mount Cook skies.

New Zealand’s wine industry aims to be the first in the world to go sustainable, and has issued a draft sustainability policy to be implemented by vintage 2012.

Hapuku Lodge has just announced an eco package that will see the carbon footprint of their guests completely offset by a tree planting initiative.

Carbon has been declared the enemy of the Wellington tourism industry as a growing number of operators join the battle towards a sustainable future.