OUR SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENTS

Akaroa Dolphins strives to give an authentic, personal, and luxurious harbour nature cruise, while protecting the environment and giving back to the community.

As a provider of a first-class service, Akaroa Dolphins recognises that we have an obligation to this unique and special environment in and around Akaroa harbour. It is vital that our activities have a positive impact on the environment and community. We strive to educate our guests and provide a highly sustainable, quality experience.

We are committed to operating our business in a way that treats the environment and people we come in contact with, in a respectful manner. We believe in thinking beyond short term gains that may be detrimental to the planet, and focus on long term initiatives that enrich the environment and community for future generations.

We are proudly ‘Committed to Sustainable Tourism’.

In 2018 Akaroa Dolphins joined New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Commitments, a TIA (Tourism Industry Aotearoa) led project developed with the vision of leading the world in sustainable tourism.

We are committed to hosting communities, contributing to restoring, protecting, and enhancing our natural environment, and continuing to be a high-quality destination of choice for domestic and international travelers.

In 2019, we joined the Tiaki Promise movement, which is a commitment to care for Aotearoa - New Zealand, for now, and for future generations. To learn more about how you can make a difference CLICK HERE!

Tiaki Promise

WE ARE COMMITTED TO BEING A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM BUSINESS BY:

Caring and looking after the wellbeing of Banks Peninsula’s resident Hector’s dolphins, by finding new ways to protect them.
Continuing to educating the public to increase awareness of these endangered mammals.
Ensuring a percentage of each passenger's fare goes to the Department of Conservation, to be spent on research and education of marine wildlife.
Minimizing our impact on the environment and keeping wildlife disturbances to a minimum. An example of this is our new catamaran 'Akaroa Dolphin' was purpose-built, with minimum noise transfer to the dolphins, using environmentally designed state-of-the-art engines.
Being a SMART (Sustainable Marine Mammal Actions in Recreation and Tourism) operator.

Continuing to provide a high-quality tour.
Complying with all environmental legislation and operational requirements from the Department of Conservation and other local authorities.
Keeping an effective maintenance and staff training program to reduce the risk of emergency situations.
Reducing energy consumption and therefore carbon emissions in all areas of our operation.
Reducing the use of non-recyclable materials and recycle where possible.
Being an example in promoting a clean, safe harbour by encouraging the public and other boat operators to act responsibly.
Removing any rubbish we see in the ocean ourselves.
Employing local personnel, where possible, therefore providing jobs within the area.
Paying our team members above the 'Living Wage'.
Stocking locally made products and using local services wherever possible. Encourage the public to do the same.
Become an agent of change, by having a sustainable procurement policy
Being a plastic bag-free business.
Committed to the Tiaki Promise. Tiaki means to care for people and place.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENRICHING THE ENVIRONMENT BY:

Having strong Department of Conservation relationships, since 2004
Supporting and contributing financially to research conducted in the Akaroa harbour area on Hector's dolphins, since 2004
Having a strong relationship with the New Zealand Whale & Dolphin Trust. Providing a SeaWeek conservation cruise with all proceeds going toward their research. Team members actively joining their research vessels, collecting data for PhD projects on the Hector’s dolphins, since 2004
Sponsoring SeaWeek conservation activities annually, since 2004
Participating in ocean debris clean-ups during our cruises, since 2004
Representing the Tourism Industry in the development of the first Threat Management Plan of Hector's dolphins, in 2007

Being a corporate member of Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust, since 2009
Sponsoring the Tui Project through the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust, since 2009
Assisting in water testing with Christchurch City Council, monitoring the health of our harbour, since 2010
Leading the way in establishing the Akaroa Marine Reserve, after 20 years of debate, which was formally opened in 2014
Supporting ‘Plastic Bag Free Akaroa’ by eliminating the use of single-use plastic bags in our shop & boats, since 2016
Being the main sponsor for the Banks Peninsula Vermin Shoot Competition, 2016 - 2019
Having team members trained as Project Jonah marine mammal medics, which was put into practice at a recent whale stranding at Robinson’s Bay on the 12th of March 2017
Sponsoring the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust's - Port Hills Revegetation Project, 2020
Assisting Pohatu Penguins with the Kororā Little Blue Penguin Survey, by providing our catamaran and skipper at no cost, 2020
Sponsoring Akaroa Area School's reforestation Hammond Port Project - Te Umu Te Rahua, 2020 - 2025

LOCAL EVENTS & GROUPS WE SUPPORT INCLUDE:

We work hard to support our community by undertaking a number of actions. Many of these you will not see, but some you may notice. Below are examples of some actions we have taken:

Providing sponsorship to our local schools, community groups, and sports clubs, since 2004

Mentoring other businesses within the Akaroa and Canterbury region.
Offering work experience and mentoring local students.
Supporting the Police, Coastguard, and Maritime NZ in search and recuse operations.
Many of our team members donate their time to local community groups, working on initiatives that support the environment and people within our region.
Assisting New Zealand universities with research, for a wide range of topics, including marine ecotourism and cultural awareness within tourism.
Donating $30,000 towards the Akaroa Hospital Rebuild, 2019

If you have any questions or would like to learn more please CONTACT US!