environmental sustainability in Nelson New Zealand

Sustainable Tourism newsletter

February 2009

Qualmark Green update

Congratulations to The Resurgence accommodation in Riwaka, Nelson who have been awarded an Enviro-Gold logo as part of Qualmark's Responsible Tourism Operations criteria.  Peter and Clare at The Resurgence are established members of the Charter and thoroughly deserve the recognition associated with this achievement.

Well done also to Felix and the team at Owen River Lodge; the lodge has also just received a Qualmark Enviro-Gold logo.  Owen River Lodge is New Zealand's only Qualmark 5 Star-rated specialist fly fishing lodge.  As Felix says, it is now also (officially) one of the greenest!

These are the third and fourth Nelson Tasman operators to be awarded an Enviro-Gold logo, along with Farewell Spit Eco Tours and Arrow Motel.  Farewell Spit Eco Tours, Arrow Motel and The Resurgence are also Charter members.

There are several other tourism operators in Nelson Tasman who have applied for an Enviro logo, after strong performance within the Qualmark Responsible Tourism Operations criteria.  Watch this space for updates on these businesses!

Charter timeframe      

As most of you will know, the funding for our Sustainable Tourism Charter is due to run out at the beginning of May.  Much has been achieved in the 4 years since its inception in May 2005, and I'm honoured to have played a part.

Key activities for the coming months include:

• Completing Sustainability Reports for the latest 15 businesses to join the charter
• Completing a report for The Ministry of Tourism and Ministry for the Environment on the charter project
• Making changes to our website (www.NelsonNZ.com/sustainable.tourism) to provide tourism businesses with tools, templates, information and key contacts relating to sustainability going forward
  
• Organising a final wind-up meeting for charter members, likely to be held during the first week of May

Ecological Forestry Project      

An exciting ecological re-afforestation project is being developed in the Wakapuaka area, 15 minutes drive from Nelson City.  This project will utilise eco-sourced native seeds planted and maintained in such a way that a forest rich in biodiversity grows ten times (or more) faster than an equivalent forest growing naturally. 

Helle Janssen is managing this project in collaboration with Nelson City Council (who are willing to provide 23 hectares of land) and the Code:RED carbon reduction rewards scheme being launched on 13 March at Founders Park.  A charitable trust has been established called Reciprocated Bio-Capacity, which will be the main way donations and funding will be collected for the project.

This project is exciting because it will potentially be the first of its kind in New Zealand and will deliver numerous benefits, including:

• Practical materials such as food and timber for building
  
• An output called Bio Char which can be used to re-vitalise carbon-depleted soils (such as on the Waimea Plain)
• Biodiversity links which will increase the resilience of nearby native bush remnants
• Carbon storage potential which can be used to offset carbon emissions by visitors and Nelson Tasman residents
  
• A way for businesses, including tourism operators, to contribute meaningfully to a significant biodiversity project which makes a visible difference locally
• An attraction for visitors and locals alike, with planned walkways and education opportunities within the forest

You can visit the website, although as it is still under construction it is best to contact Helle Janssen directly on 03 571 6026 or 021 1377 709 for further information on how to become involved.  Involvement can be in the form of hands-on participation in planting and maintenance of trees or finanical donations on a per guest or casual basis.

TIA Tourism Energy Efficiency Programme      

The Tourism Industry Association (TIA) and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) are coordinating a pilot project delivering subsidised energy audits for 12 New Zealand tourism operators.  This is one way that the NZ tourism industry is taking a lead role in protecting and enhancing the environment; a key objective within the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015.

Tourism businesses involved in the project are accommodation providers and transport operators, with plans to expand to flight operators this year.  Nelson Tasman charter member, Grand Mercure Nelson Monaco is one of the businesses participating.  "The energy audit and associated report provided us with a clear picture of where significant energy and economic savings could be made," Manager Clare Davies said.  "By providing indications of the capital cost versus payback period of numerous actions, the audit make planning for reducing energy use very efficient." 

Case studies from some of the participating businesses are available via the TIA website.  These provide some useful practical examples of where gains in energy efficiency can be made.

Green door hanger      

An interesting story appeared in the industry newsletter Inside Tourism on 22 January.  The story tells of a simple, but effective action taken by The Millenium Hotel in Christchurch to reduce energy and water use.

According to customer feedback at The Millenium, their guests do not necessarily need their rooms serviced daily.  The hotel has since started providing guests with a 'going green' hanger on their door handle to indicate that their room does not need servicing that day.

Economic savings generated by the hotel from reductions in water, electricity and staff time are in turn passed on to the Untouched World Charitable Trust.  You can view the Environmental Policy for the hotel here.

This is just one of many examples of hotels in New Zealand taking positive steps around sustainable business practices.

Nelson Tasman rivers get good marks      

Several rivers in Nelson Tasman have recently been undertaken by Fish and Game NZ.   As well as measuring the condition of the Motueka, Baton, Waimea, Pelorus and Rai Rivers, trout numbers were also measured as an indicator of river health.

Staff from Fish and Game NZ report that flows were good and little sediment and algae was present in the rivers; this is often not the case at this time of year.

This is good news for the general health of the environment.  It is also positive for visitors engaging in river-based activities, such as fishing, swimming, photography etc.  Click here to read the full story.

Bike Wise Month      

This month is Bike Wise Month in New Zealand, an initiative promoting and celebrating the gentle art of cycling.  There are various events planned throughout the country and the region, including Go By Bike Day on 18 February.  Go By Bike Day encourages young and old to travel to work by bike and reap the benefits!

To get you in the mood, here are three articles that may be of interest:

• A story from The Independent newspaper in the UK providing 20 reasons why there has never been a better time to take up cycling
• Details of an ingenious invention which projects a virtual cycle lane on the ground behind a bike using a red light to enhance the safety of cycling at night
• A Household Travel Survey conducted by the Ministry of Transport on cycling for transport which provides some statistics on the frequency and characteristics of cycling in NZ

So make sure you get on that bike this month, and encourage others to do the same!  A relevant quote from H.G. Wells seems appropriate here:

"When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the human race."

Fish & Game seeking wetlands      

It was World Wetlands Day on Monday 2 February.  To celebrate this and raise awareness of the importance of wetlands within our ecosystems, Nelson Fish and Game is promoting its free freshwater biodiversity advice service.  Over the past 5 years, dozens of wetland projects have been developed utilising this service.

Wetland areas play a key role in filtering, purifying and storing water within the landscape.  However over 90% of New Zealand's historic wetland areas have disappeared, with an even higher loss occurring in many lowland agricultural plains. 

Landowners considering adding value to their properties through the creation of wetlands can contact Nelson Fish and Game on 03 544 6382 for advice.  To read the full news story, click here.

ITM Sustainability Guide      

ITM have released a sustainable building guide on their website.  The guide is aimed at homeowners and builders and provides information on a wide range of subjects relating to building such as construction materials, energy and water efficiency and air quality.

A good list of contacts for sustainable products and services is also listed on this website.  This includes links to information on sustainable forestry and important information relating to minimising waste during the building process.

The information contained on ITM's website is very useful if you're considering building yourself, or are employing someone to do it on your behalf.

President Obama      

With the dramatic inauguration of Barack Obama as US President, much of America and many in other countries seemed to draw their breath in hope.  While this only happened a matter of weeks ago, it seems that Obama has swiftly gotten down to work.

As many in the media are reporting, the direction of Obama's administration appears to starkly contrast with the Bush era, particularly on matters relating to the environment.  Interestingly, one of Obama's first acts was to freeze numerous pieces of legislation initiated by the Bush administration; read about this here.  Another piece describes further action taken by Obama, relating to significant issues such as climate change and energy efficiency.

In contrast to Obama's approach to environmental issues, this selection of 8 environmental 'Bushisms' is a reminder of what America and the world will be missing out on.

Something to ponder ...      

"It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants.  The question is:  what are we busy about?"

- Henry David Thoreau