Hauraki Coromandel tourism industry takes action on sustainability

Last week Destination Coromandel launched a regional industry-wide programme to help make a positive impact on our environment. The plan of action provides opportunities for 200 businesses to take simple pragmatic steps, supported by fee-free coaching from experts to achieve a tangible reduction in their business impacts and potentially reduce costs.

An industry-wide commitment to give back to the environment that so many visitors come to enjoy will add heft to a Hauraki Coromandel culture of care for our place.  "It's a chance for us to live up to our reputation by each making a real difference, however small. Just start here with us, commit, and together those small wins will be huge," says Hadley Dryden, general manager Destination Coromandel.

The Sustainability Programme was developed following a successful pilot which Destination Coromandel and six local businesses undertook in 2021.   The Destination Coromandel team then worked through the steps to measure, reduce and offset their  annual greenhouse gas emissions and achieved Ekos certification as a Zero Carbon Organisation. "We needed to see what it would take to change before we felt confident to urge others to sign up," explains Hadley.

The industry programme is designed to be simple, progressive and ambitious, focussing on three key impact areas: Carbon Free, Waste Free and Predator Free. Each pillar is broken into three steps, commencing with simple actions for immediate wins. 

The first step is a commitment to switch power off when not in use, cease the use of single-use coffee cups, and donate $50 to a local community conservation group to help save our kiwi, along with other simple acts.

Step two is one-on-one coaching with an expert sustainability advisor from local company Instep, funded by Destination Coromandel through a government grant to support the reset of tourism. Coaching was the highlight of the pilot programme, and access to tailored support is seen as key for businesses to understand measures they can take.

Step three is for those who are ready to progress to achieve zero carbon and zero landfill certification and to support predator free activities and voluntourism to help save kiwi in the region.

"Voluntourism is a way in which travellers can give back to our region when they visit.  This could be by literally volunteering with one of our conservation groups, or with one of our tourism businesses on their environmental initiatives," explains Hadley.  "They can also support our actions by booking with businesses which are committed to making the difference. We chose predator-free initiatives for our programme to support kiwi population numbers as an indicator of the progress we are making as a region, but we acknowledge there are many important conservation efforts under way."

The region has a wide range of volunteer community conservation groups in action, and they all need support with time and resources. Destination Coromandel has partnered with Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Trust to ensure industry financial support through the programme is at grass roots level with community groups active in the region.

The launch of the programme saw 50 businesses signed up immediately, demonstrating that conservation is already part of life here for many tourism operators. The programme is available for any business in the region operating in the visitor sector. While limited to 200 at this stage, the programme will support wider efforts to protect The Coromandel by reducing carbon emissions, progressively removing all discharges to land, water or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health and enhancing our biodiversity.

Businesses can sign up by contacting DestinatIon Coromandel, hadley@thecoromandel.com or directly via their website.
https://www.thecoromandel.com/industry/forever-good-for-your-soul-sustainable-programme/

The Sustainability Programme is one of a number of destination management projects under way at Destination Coromandel, including other industry capacity building and product development initiatives.

Image: https://images.thecoromandel.com/ecourier/#/download/4ff358cd-966b-4823-8239-5b68524d320d

ENDS

Destination Coromandel:
The Regional Tourism Organisation for Thames Coromandel and Hauraki Districts.

Hadley Dryden, General Manager   
hadley@thecoromandel.com
 021 227 4387

www.thecoromandel.com