Purpose

Akaroa Dolphins is committed to conducting all business activities ethically, transparently and in a manner that contributes to positive social and environmental outcomes.

As a small wildlife tourism business, Akaroa Dolphins does not currently engage in lobbying activities or employ lobbyists to influence government policy. If the company participates in public policy discussions in the future, it will do so responsibly and in accordance with this policy.

Our Principles

Should Akaroa Dolphins engage with government agencies, elected representatives, industry bodies or regulators on matters of public policy, we will:

• Advocate only where we believe it contributes to positive outcomes for society, the environment, conservation, sustainable tourism, local communities or responsible business.
• Base our positions on reliable information, scientific evidence and practical operational experience wherever possible.
• Communicate honestly, respectfully and transparently.

Political Contributions

Akaroa Dolphins does not make financial or in-kind contributions to political parties, political candidates or election campaigns.

Should this position ever change, any proposed contribution would require prior approval from the Board of Directors and full compliance with applicable New Zealand legislation.

Anti-Corruption and Bribery

Akaroa Dolphins maintains a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption.

The company will not offer, request or accept bribes, inducements or improper benefits in any form to influence government decisions or obtain an unfair business advantage.

Industry Associations and Intermediary Organisations

Akaroa Dolphins is a member of various tourism and conservation organisations. Where these organisations undertake advocacy on behalf of members, the company will:

• seek to ensure their advocacy aligns with our values and this policy;
• review memberships periodically;
• raise concerns where advocacy is inconsistent with our commitment to environmental stewardship, ethical business conduct or responsible tourism.

Governance

The Board of Directors is responsible for approving this policy.

The Managing Director is responsible for implementing, monitoring and enforcing the policy across the business.

This policy will be reviewed every two years or earlier if business activities change.

Implementation

The policy is communicated to directors and managers and forms part of the company's governance framework.

Where the company participates in submissions, consultations or policy discussions, these activities will be reviewed to ensure they are consistent with this policy.

Risk Management

The company monitors risks by:

ensuring all public policy submissions are accurate and evidence-based;
requiring Director approval before making any public policy representations on behalf of the company;
periodically reviewing memberships of industry organisations.
Compliance with this policy is assessed during governance reviews.

Raising Concerns

Employees, contractors, suppliers and other stakeholders may raise concerns regarding business conduct or lobbying practices directly with the Managing Director or Board of Directors.

Concerns will be managed in accordance with the company's Grievance Procedure and investigated promptly, confidentially and without retaliation.

Public Availability

This Responsible Lobbying Policy is approved by the Board of Directors and published on the Akaroa Dolphins website to ensure transparency and accessibility for all stakeholders.