Our Commitment
PRESERVING AND RESPECTING THE ECOSYSTEMS, PEOPLE AND ANIMALS OF THE LAND WE OPERATE ON
Ziptrek is guided by the Tikanga Māori Values of Manaakitanga – to extend aroha (love and compassion) to others; Kaitiakitanga – guardianship of the sky, land and sea; and Whanaungatanga – connection with others through shared experiences.
We aim for our business operations to have such an impact that if we removed our ziplines, detached our treehouses and left the area, our Queenstown community and environment would be left better than when we arrived in 2009.
We do this by putting sustainability at the very heart of our business, ensuring that it is the driving force behind all our decisions – we want to not only be the change, but inspire action.
Ziptrek Ecotours is pleased to be one of 21 companies globally that have declared their ambition to become Future-Fit – a global movement of business working towards an environmentally restorative, socially just and economically inclusive future.
“Queenstown’s environment is at the heart of our business and everything we do. We couldn’t imagine living and working in this stunning environment without giving something back.”
- Trent Yeo, Company Director
QUEENSTOWN'S FIRST NET ZERO CARBON TOURISM ACTIVITY
“Manaaki whenua, Manaaki tangata, Haere whakamua.”
“Care for the land, care for the people, go forward.”
For the third year in a row, Ziptrek is proud to have achieved Net Zero Carbon Business Operations Certification with Ekos who provide carbon footprint measurement, reduction and carbon offsetting based certification services.
Ziptrek is excited to be working on a pilot with Ekos and CarbonTrail to automate the certification process which is more efficient and aligned with ISO standard.
Ziptrek’s 20/21 business operations carbon impact was measured as 11.15tCO2e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) or, 1.35kgCO2e per guest.
We offset 100% of the CO2 emissions we produced by purchasing certified carbon credits that support the growth and protection of permanent indigenous forests in Aotearoa. This year, we have chosen to support the Kānuka Hill – Uruwhenua Native Regeneration Project near Golden Bay.
Ziptrek Ecotours’ emission and offset summaries are available here:
22/23 summary - view.
21/22 summary - view.
20/21 summary – view.
19/20 summary – view.
18/19 summary – view.
To put our carbon impact of 1.35kgCO2e per guest into perspective, the production of an average running shoe is estimated to generate around 12.5kgs of carbon dioxide emissions. A one-way flight from Auckland to Los Angeles is estimated to have a carbon footprint of 1.7 tonnes per traveller.
Ziptrek is able to operate year-round and welcome thousands of guests per year on tour while maintaining a comparatively minuscule carbon footprint – we’re pretty proud of that!
And we are continually working to further reduce our carbon impact.
TIAKI MEANS TO CARE FOR PEOPLE AND PLACE
Nau mai haere mai ki Aotearoa, Welcome to New Zealand
New Zealand is precious, and everyone who lives and travels here has a responsibility to look after it. We’ve taken The Tiaki Promise, a commitment to care for New Zealand, for now, and for future generations and encourage you to do so, too:
“While travelling in New Zealand I will
care for land, sea and nature, treading lightly and leaving no trace.
Travel safely, showing care and consideration for all.
Respect culture travelling with an open heart and mind.”
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EVERY TOUR GIVES BACK
Every guest that joins us on a Ziptrek Ecotour helps us give back to our community and environment. Here are just a few things we’re proud to have accomplished with your help:
- Planted more than 6,000 native trees as part of our program to reintroduce native flora and strengthen the ecosystem we operate in
- Donated $250K+ to low impact organisations and volunteer charities
- Raised over $3000 for Waste to Wilderness, a local initiative building waste streams into scalable planting during our Locals’ Month Event
- Sponsored Paper4Trees, a waste minimisation and native tree planting programme for New Zealand schools
- Sponsored the reptile wing at Kiwi Birdlife Park to house its collection of rare and endangered wildlife
- Implemented a pest control program on Bob’s Peak to trap predators like stoats and possums
- Worked with Wilding & Co, an organisation actively removing wilding pines in the Whakatipu and turning them into pure pine essence oil
- Switched to Ecotricity, a 100% renewable, 49% community-owned and carbon-neutral electricity provider
- Installed a living green wall in our Camp Street office, improving indoor air quality and creating a stage for community events
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