Nature / Sustainable Tourism

Kiwis (the non-feathered variety) have gone to the polls to elect a new top bird and - in what’s promising to be a closely fought election - some native species have even hired campaign managers to boost their roost.

New Zealand’s wide open spaces and unique environment provide a mecca for freedom campers but tourists are being advised to check with the locals before pitching a tent or parking their campervan.

A global peace movement is set to take its first steps in New Zealand this week when a flame lit during a ceremony in Waitakere, West Auckland begins a journey that will take it to more than 90 countries.

A traditional Māori medicine garden planted on an East Coast marae during Conservation Week could be repeated elsewhere in New Zealand, as part of a Department of Conservation campaign to raise awareness.

Kiwis are reputed to be great global travellers but the discovery of New Zealand’s national icon in the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy in outer space has to be off the planet in anyone’s book.

New Zealand is turning the concept of a wildlife ‘Big Five’ upside down by developing its own ‘Small Five’ list aimed at encouraging travellers to come and see some of the world’s rarest creatures for themselves.

New Zealand has a new international celebrity – parrot pin up boy Sirocco the kakapo has shot to stardom after his unusual mating attempt with a zoologist aired on BBC television.

A British zoologist who had an encounter of the mating kind with an endangered kakapo during filming for the BBC in New Zealand, has had the honour of naming one of the rare parrots.

Some call it the “flightless national bore” and others a “biological oddity” but New Zealand’s iconic bird, the kiwi, has topped polls to become NZ Bird of the Year

Two top New Zealand tourism businesses have been short-listed for international responsible tourism awards.