“Tiaki Promise – Care for the Destination”
The Promise: “Tiaki” is the New Zealand name for the worldwide responsible tourism movement. The movement has arisen from the realisation that tourism is not just a product or service to be sold without conscience. It is a commitment of shared responsibility between host & visitor to respect, honour, and care for the people, culture, flora, fauna, and the land that is being visited.
Keep it clean: Leave no trace. It’s a simple principle; always make sure you dispose of your rubbish responsibly. In many countries you will see fewer & fewer rubbish bins. This is under the premise – if you bring it in, you should take it out.
Show Respect: Embrace the spirit of the local people. Strike up conversations along your journey – a casual chat at a bar or restaurant or at a local market – it’s the best way to get insider knowledge on the area you’re visiting, and you may even pick up the local lingo and make new life-long friends!
The 5 Rules to Protect Nature: In your travels you can get close to some incredible wildlife. Here are some rules to show your respect and care for nature.
1/- Give wildlife space: keep a distance of at least 20 meters between you and the animal/bird/nest. Never, ever get between an animal and it’s young.
2/- Don’t feed them: whilst they may crave your snacks, most birds & animals haven’t adapted to eat human food. For example, if kākā eat food such as nuts and seeds they may develop metabolic bone disease.
3/- Keep your shoes clean: Kauri Dieback is a massive threat to our stunning native Kauri trees. Other countries face similar threats to their plant life. Help to prevent the spread of this disease by cleaning your footwear with disinfectant and scrubbing brushes before embarking on walking tracks. Also, stick to the trails to avoid crushing new seedlings.
4/- Help pest-free sanctuaries stay pest-free: When visiting predator/pest-free islands make sure you check your gear before you leave the mainland. Search your gear for pests such as rodents and insects. Even ants can be a problem if spread to a sanctuary. Clean your footwear and gear to prevent spreading soil and seeds. Zip up your bags before leaving home so no pests can hitchhike a ride.
5/- Support sustainable wildlife operators
There are many tourism businesses who give you the opportunity to encounter wildlife close up. As well as getting to have unforgettable wildlife experiences, if you choose sustainable tourism operators you can help to support conservation efforts.
