Sustainability—the way ahead
Sustainable development ‘…meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’
The principles of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and manaakitanga (hospitality) and are the basis for a uniquely New Zealand approach to sustainability. By delivering on these principles, the tourism sector will provide hospitality to its visitors while protecting and managing our culture and environment.
A sustainable tourism sector means that:
- our customers will enjoy their time in New Zealand, and will want to travel here for the unique and sustainable tourism experiences we offer
- tourism businesses will be financially profitable, able to reinvest in their businesses, and attract and retain the skilled workers they need
- the natural environment will be protected and enhanced, and the environmental footprint of the tourism sector will continue to shrink
- we work with communities for mutual benefit.
Tourism relies more than any other sector on our continuing sustainability as a nation. This is because New Zealand itself is the product we are selling.
True sustainability reaches across all areas of life —environmental, economic, social, and cultural. These areas are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. For the tourism sector to prosper, we need to deliver on all of them.
Visitors see their experience as a whole, not as component parts. There is no point in providing comprehensive recycling facilities if our communities are unwelcoming, or delivering exemplary service if our streams are polluted. We need to make a greater commitment to using our resources more sustainably in order to protect both our environment and our economic potential.
Sustainable products and services are in growing demand globally. We already have a reputation for being ‘clean and green’. This has been reinforced by Tourism New Zealand’s 100% Pure New Zealand campaign.
Managing our reputation and delivering true sustainability will create opportunities that will benefit all New Zealand businesses, including those in tourism.
A sustainable tourism sector requires us to achieve a balance between running financially viable businesses, satisfying our customers, protecting our physical environment, and supporting our communities.
A whole-of-New Zealand approach
A sustainable tourism sector cannot be achieved in isolation. The tourism sector is so intimately woven into New Zealand’s economy and across New Zealand’s communities that we need a nationwide commitment to sustainability. This requires all areas of government and all economic sectors to play their part and to acknowledge the connections that exist between us.
In particular, we need to develop a whole-of-New Zealand environmental management plan that demonstrates our commitment as a nation to a clear, coordinated response to environmental issues. This needs to encompass all the work being done across government to address climate change, including the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme. A clear national framework, articulating a national direction and national priorities, will provide certainty and context for the tourism sector.
Connections with other strategies and initiatives
Other strategies and initiatives underway that will help us achieve our sustainability goals include:
- the programme being implemented to develop Auckland as an internationally competitive city, with high-quality, attractive infrastructure, facilities, and streetscapes
- New Zealand’s Digital Strategy, which is being implemented to make sure that we have the information and communications technology we need to do business
- the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme, which will encourage sectors across the economy, including tourism businesses, to find smart, efficient ways to cut back their emissions
- the New Zealand Transport Strategy, which seeks to ensure that we have a sustainable transport network throughout the country
- the economy-wide energy initiatives of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy.
Further details about these, and other initiatives and strategies that will help us achieve our sustainability goals are outlined in Appendix B.