Our product offers a very unique opportunity, one we felt sat front and centre and perfectly aligned with the visitor experience that we offer, this is the opportunity to not only showcase New Zealand at its very best but to demonstrate to everyone who visits these beautiful places or takes photographs of our indigenous wildlife how special they are and why they need our help to protect and preserve them.
Our guides rich dialogues with our guests not only tell the stories of our land but highlight efforts being made to conserve them for future generations.
Wherever we find ourselves in New Zealand we have made a commitment to uncovering and connecting with business and providers who also have a commitment to sustainable tourism, so we can ensure that the tours that we create for our guests are ones which reflect the values of our company and together we are creating a positive impact for all involved.
We actively seek partners who hold enviro gold ratings or how have documented sustainability procedures in place. We have also partnered with Sustainable Travel International who are advocates of creating positive change in the global tourism industry, our membership to this organisation helps to provide education and the tools and resources needed to improve tourism in vulnerable areas plus create sustainable tourism opportunities where they are needed most.
Our expert guides are renowned for their photography experience and skills however like-minded souls drift together and we are proud to say that our team is also actively involved in conservation and sustainability efforts of their own everything from track care in our national parks to native species preservation.
We also wherever possible employ local guides this not only provides our tours with rich, in-depth knowledge of each area but supports local economies through job creation.
We help support the local photography communities in Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch by helping run and hosting events for photography Meetup groups, making photography experience accessible to locals.
In Wellington, we also work closely with Zealandia and The Wellington Botanical Gardens to offer a range of free photography workshops for 12-16 year olds.
Because of our dedication to the right way, our commitment is to be completely carbon neutral. To do this we have minimised our carbon footprint as much as possible and we will actively continue to find ways to reduce emissions created by our business. The remainder of the emission we produce will then be offset and through planting native trees.
As a part of our commitment to our host communities, we have become a supporter of the New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Commitment, which aims to see every New Zealand Tourism committed to sustainability by 2025 and have our country leading the globe in sustainable tourism.
This initiative incorporates 14 commitments to sustainability which we have adopted into our business.
We have adopted and fully support the Taiki Promise in all aspects of our business. By following the Tiaki Promise, we are making a commitment to New Zealand. To act as a guardian, protecting and preserving our home.
You can see more about the Tiaki Promise we have undertaken on their website by clicking here.
Nature First is a global movement with members in over 50 countries and a growing number of local chapters. This is a movement of photographers who want to take action to reduce their ever-growing impact on our wild and natural lands. It is a movement in which each person takes responsibility for their actions.
Read more about our commitment and how you can get involved here.
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.