The environment found in New Zealand is unique in limitless ways and infinite in beauty. However, the native environment, it’s flora and fauna is under numerous threats. As the environment provides us with means to host our photography tours we are driven to ensure that it is protected and preserved for future generations. To do this we have made the Tiaki Promise. The Tiaki Promise is a commitment to New Zealand. To act as a guardian, protecting and preserving our home.
In accordance with our promise and our company’s sustainability philosophy, we sponsor and donate to various programs throughout the country including; National Park conservation, habitat protection for marine species, by supporting local the Penguin & Sealion Trusts – we aim to leave a positive local impact wherever our tours visit.
Below are some of the organisations we are supporting, each with a special purpose.
Our aim in conjunction with our customers is to help restore an ecosystem including a stream to its native state by clearing weeds, planting native plants of the region and installing traps. This will provide a new habitat for both flora and fauna to enable natural restoration of the environment and provide a clean contributory to the surrounding ecosystem to continue into the future.
You can learn more here.
We have partnered with Love Wanaka to play an active role in the protection and regeneration of Wānaka and the surrounding area. This initiative aims to be a carbon – zero economy by 2030, to create an ecosystem where nature thrives for the benefit of all species and to ensure that tourism gives back more than it takes. While we actively donate on behalf of every booking made that travels through this region we actively encourage those on our tours to also make a donation to this cause.
You can make an individual contribution here or add it to your next booking.
For our West Coast tour we take customers to visit the penguins, because ww enjoy photographing these threatened species we feel we need to make every effort to protect the wildlife in this area. This trust protects the blue penguins (korora), Fiordland crested penguins (tawaki) and other threatened seabirds. You can learn more here.
Founded in 2003 The New Zealand Sea Lion Trust exists to provide protection to and education about this critically endangered marine mammal species. We run tours through this area as we hold a DOC Marine Mammals Permit to take our tours to visit these amazing creatures we felt we need to support the efforts of this small charity. You can learn more about the Trust here.
We also donate to the Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust to preserve the natural resources in this area. We donate to this trust to plant trees in Abel Tasman National Park to offset the carbon of our tours. This trust aims to pioneer a culture of philanthropy from the park’s international guests, directly funding the planning, eco-sourcing, propagation, planting and maintenance of native tree restorations in local protected areas, this initiative fits well with our company’s philosophy of preservation and conservation here.
The Matukituki valleys are iconic valleys within Aspiring National Park. Steeped in history from before the times of the first ascent of Mt Aspiring/Tititea. We donate to the Matikutuki Charitable Trust which has been established to ensure that the valley’s natural attributes are protected and enhanced. The Trust aims to restore the habitat and increase the population of all native flora and fauna, but particularly those species that make the valley special, such as kea, whio, South Island robin, rock wren, South Island kaka, South Island rifleman, braided river birds, South Island long tailed bat, several species of lizards, and scarlet mistletoe.
You can read more about our commitments to Aotearoa and Sustainability here.