Nature / Sustainable Tourism

Whale watching and the study of New Zealand’s diverse marine life is a major tourist attraction and a national pastime, but come winter the recreational activity takes on a more serious note.

An unexpected population explosion has the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre aquarium, on the Otago Peninsula, brimming with activity.

A leading New Zealand winery has taken an out-of-the-ordinary approach to increasing its biodynamic efforts with the employment of a 22-year-old horse named Stewart.

Air New Zealand has been recognised as one of New Zealand's most environmentally responsible tourism businesses with the award of Qualmark Enviro-Gold status.

A cheeky New Zealand parrot has flown off with a British visitor’s passport after plucking it from the courier bag of a tourist bus in the South Island.

Wintry conditions are creating a spectacular natural phenomenon at an iconic New Zealand tourist destination.

‘Hobbit’ hype is gathering international momentum as Tolkien fans again focus on Middle Earth and New Zealand’s role in the making of the much-awaited Lord of the Rings’ prequel.

Usually it’s the early bird that catches the worm, but New Zealand is offering an early chance to catch the bird - with an invitation for visitors to travel to a remote destination for a rare meeting.

Penguin stars of ice athletics are playing the audience at Kelly Tarlton’s - Auckland’s family waterfront experience – showing off their ball-handling and feet-tapping skills.

Not all kiwi families have been affected by the recession – gloom and doom hasn’t reached New Zealand’s Ruahine Ranges where it’s been a bumper breeding season for eastern North Island brown kiwi.