Tiaki - Care for New Zealand
Tiaki - Care for New Zealand has been set up by a group of New Zealand tourism organisations to actively encourage local and international travellers to care for our country as much as we do.
Tiaki means to care for people and place.
The Tiaki Promise is a commitment to care for New Zealand, for now and for future generations.
Marlborough Tour Company's values align with Tiaki and we wholeheartedly get behind the Tiaki Promise and encourage all visitors to Marlborough to act as guardians of Aotearoa New Zealand.
For more information, head to the Tiaki website.
Eco-conscious
Marlborough Tour Company is founded on celebrating the incredible beauty of Marlborough’s natural environment and local produce.
Our dedicated Green Team, which comprises of staff members who are passionate about making our company as environmentally sustainable as we can, is always developing new and improved ways to reduce waste and improve environmental efficiency, while further enhancing the excellent visitor experience we are known for.
We are very conscious of the environment in every part of our business, including:
- reducing and recycling rubbish wherever possible from our vehicles, vessels, accommodation and office environments
- clear communication to cruise guests that no rubbish goes overboard
- keeping our fleet well serviced to minimise fuel consumption
- reducing single-use plastic across all our businesses
- making all Marlborough Tour Company vehicles and cruise vessels smoke free.
Marine Mammals Protection Regulations 1992
We proudly support the Marine Mammals Protection Regulations 1992. These ensure the marine mammals of New Zealand are protected and that their conservation is a top priority.
Conservation partnerships
Marlborough Tour Company supports local community groups that share our vision to preserve and restore the environment we live and work in. These great projects include:
Kaipupu Sanctuary
Kaipupu Sanctuary is a community project in the middle of Picton Harbour, restoring a 40-hectare peninsula back to its original wilderness.
The sanctuary, protected by a predator proof fence, is a recovering haven for plants, insects and birdlife, and has an environmental education programme which is popular with school groups from Marlborough and further afield.
Allow 1.5–2 hours to leisurely walk around the 2.7km circular track and enjoy the bird song, native forest, and stunning views across the inner Queen Charlotte Sound.
Endeavour Inlet Conservation Trust
The Endeavour Inlet Conservation Trust does great work protecting and enhancing the incredible native ecosystems that make the Marlborough Sounds so special and unique.
Driven by the community, the trust supports conservation projects in the hills surrounding Endeavour Inlet, and broader Sounds environmental efforts.
After all, caring for the stunning natural beauty we enjoy every day is everyone’s responsibility.
Marlborough Sounds Restoration Trust
For many years, the Marlborough Sounds Restoration Trust has focused on conservation work, primarily the systematic control of wilding pines to encourage the regeneration of native bush and restore the iconic landscape of the Sounds.
If left unchecked, pine trees can overtake native plants as the dominant species. Pine tree by pine tree, this dedicated group of locals has made significant headway into restoring our Marlborough Sounds paradise.
Picton Dawn Chorus
Picton Dawn Chorus is a hugely successful community-driven programme that aims to reduce the number of introduced predator species in and around the Picton township that threaten our native flora and fauna.
New Zealand’s wildlife is under significant threat from these predators that eat native birds, their eggs and chicks as well as lizards and weta. To reduce pest numbers, Picton Dawn Chorus uses humane and environmentally sensitive methods of predator control, and traps are checked regularly by volunteers.
Arapaoa Kiwi Trust
Arapaoa Kiwi Trust aims to re-introduce kiwi onto Arapaoa Island in the next 5-7 years. This requires stoats to be eradicated, and prevented from re-establishing for the next 30+ years. By targeting just stoats (and not rats), island wide eradication can be achieved.
Community support
At Marlborough Tour Company we are part of the wider community. We live and work in Marlborough and care about our region and the local people.
As such we are very supportive of local schools, community groups and events, including:
- donations of cruise and tour vouchers for fundraisers at local schools, for local sports groups, the SPCA and Marlborough Cancer Society
- being a corporate member supporting organisations such as the Marlborough Inspire Foundation and Waitohi Rugby.
- sponsoring local events such as the Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon, Dazzle Marlborough - Graeme Dingle Foundation, the Marlborough Book Festival and the Havelock Mussel and Seafood Festival.