When tourism makes a full-scale return to New Zealand, international visitors will find Wellington businesses leading
the charge to carbon neutrality thanks to a new programme that’s ready to go nationwide.
The three-month Wellington Tourism Sustainability Pilot Programme, a collaboration led by WellingtonNZ with Tourism
Industry Aotearoa and Wellington City Council, was designed to make it easier for tourism businesses to embark on a
meaningful sustainability journey.
All 12 businesses* that completed the programme will be recognised by Tourism Minister Stuart Nash at an event at Te
Wharewaka-o-Poneke Function Centre on Wednesday 10 November.
WellingtonNZ Chief Executive John Allen says the project was designed with input from local tourism operators and
WellingtonNZ-owned Creative HQ.
“It involved collaboration and thought leadership that the city is known for and, importantly, its sustainability
underpins the Destination Management process. This will see Destination Plans created for Wellington City and the
Wellington region which will both set a regenerative tourism future.”
Mr Allen says WellingtonNZ and TIA will continue to work with the 12 tourism businesses which took part to showcase
their journey and what they can offer visitors.
“We all know the world is facing a climate crisis and we are excited that other New Zealand regions and business sectors
are interested in the Sustainability Programme as part of the solution.
“Ultimately, the programme is designed so tourism businesses can provide stronger community connections in a
sustainable, economically prudent manner. It’s fantastic that Wellington is leading the way in this regard.
Wellington Mayor Andy Foster said many of the city’s tourism businesses have already taken leadership roles in
supporting community and environmental resilience and, the city’s recent membership of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact.
“The Pilot strengthens that work and the city’s ambition to be a carbon neutral capital city by 2050. To do that we need
a city packed with sustainable businesses collaboratively implementing the practice of regenerative tourism - a holistic
approach giving back to the land and its people.
“The Wellington Tourism Sustainability Programme is a great platform to achieve goals that are important not just for
Wellington but the rest of New Zealand and the world.”
TIA Chief Executive Chris Roberts says that every operator has a part to play in creating a tourism industry that is
sustainable across Economic, Visitor, Community and Environment outcomes.
“With more than 1600 operators around the country having signed up to TIA’s Tourism Sustainability Commitment, we know that there is a strong desire to rebuild an improved tourism industry that delivers benefits for New
Zealanders and Aotearoa. This programme has shown what can be achieved by offering support to individual businesses and
is a great example of what we can do in other regions,” Mr Roberts says.
Total cost of the pilot programme was $60,000, partly funded by the MBIE’s Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme (STAPP) and Wellington City Council’s recovery fund Tipu Toa.
*Businesses on the pilot programme:
Kapiti Island Nature Tours
Craft Beer Tours NZ
Weta Workshop
Switched on Bikes
Manaaki Management Ltd
East by West Company Ltd
Village Accommodation Group
Wellington Helicopters
Capital Personalised Tours
Kaewa Tours
Zozo Travel Ltd
Xplor Tours