strong> Travellers invited to act as guardians of NZ

Travellers invited to act as guardians of New Zealand

Seven key New Zealand organisations have joined forces to conceive and develop Tiaki – Care for New Zealand, an initiative that actively encourages international and domestic travellers to act as guardians of Aotearoa.

Tiaki – Care for New Zealand encourages Kiwis and visitors alike to experience New Zealand in a way that keeps everyone safe, protects our environment, respects our culture and protects the country for future generations.

Tourism Minister Hon Kelvin Davis announced the initiative in Wellington this afternoon on behalf of the group: Air New Zealand, the Department of Conservation, Local Government New Zealand, New Zealand Māori Tourism, Tourism Holdings Ltd, Tourism Industry Aotearoa and Tourism New Zealand.

Tiaki means ‘to care for and protect’ in Te Reo Māori. Under the banner of Tiaki – Care for New Zealand the group launched the Tiaki Promise today, which outlines what travellers can do to care for New Zealand, travel safely and act as guardians of our land, waterways and oceans.

The Tiaki Promise communicates why caring for New Zealand is important and how to care for Aotearoa while travelling around the country.

A range of Tiaki Promise materials will be provided free of charge to New Zealand tourism organisations, including a brochure and supporting video. The resources will initially be available in English, Te Reo Māori, German and Chinese, with more languages to follow.

The seven stakeholder organisations will promote The Tiaki Promise to their customers, trade partners and staff, ensuring messaging is reinforced at visitor touchpoints across the country and around the world. Kiwis are able to show their support on social media using #tiakipromise.

The Tiaki Promise will be promoted through high traffic site newzealand.com as well as www.tiakinewzealand.co.nz and on Air New Zealand’s international services. Tiaki Promise video content will also be made available to other international carriers to New Zealand, helping to spread the word to visitors as they embark on their journeys.

Further future initiatives will be rolled out under the Tiaki – Care for New Zealand brand, including a responsible camping campaign planned for later this year.

Find out more at www.tiakinewzealand.co.nz and share your support by using #tiakipromise.

Quotes

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon
“Tourism is New Zealand’s highest value export and we’ve seen visitor numbers grow by a million in the past five years. At the same time we’ve also seen a significant increase in domestic travel demand, growing our network alone by more than a third.

“This represents an incredible opportunity for our country but it’s important we take responsibility as an industry for managing this growth and protecting the things that make New Zealand so special.

“Enlisting the support of travellers through Tiaki – Care for New Zealand is one very valuable way we can do this.”


Department of Conservation Director-General Lou Sanson
“Our natural environment is at the heart of New Zealand’s success, and keeping it healthy is the Department of Conservation’s top priority. New Zealand’s stunning landscapes are home to many vulnerable species that are found nowhere else on earth – so it’s vital that we educate and excite everyone on how best to enjoy them.

“We are fortunate that most people that live here or visit us care about nature and our environment. Tiaki makes it easier for all of us to do the right thing in the outdoors – an essential part of protecting our natural and cultural heritage as visitor numbers continue to grow.”


Local Government New Zealand spokesperson and Rotorua Lakes District Mayor Steve Chadwick
“Councils across New Zealand are at the forefront of managing the needs of their local communities with growth in visitors, both domestic and international.

“The Tiaki Promise promotes many of the values that councils and communities hold dear, that we see as common sense – guardianship of our resources and environment, leaving only footprints, camping in the right areas, driving carefully, and being a role model for positive behaviour.”

New Zealand Māori Tourism Chief Executive Pania Tyson-Nathan
“As tangata whenua, it is our role and responsibility to lead the way in respecting and protecting our land, environment, and culture for future generations. That is kaitiakitanga, and it is vital.

“As citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori and non-Māori alike, it is our collective duty to look after Papatūānuku.

“The Tiaki Promise allows Māori and indeed, all Aotearoa New Zealanders, to communicate the importance of guardianship of our world to our manuhiri before they arrive here. By acknowledging our values, visitors can share in this sense of guardianship.

“The Tiaki Promise serves as a reminder to all Aotearoa New Zealanders that we are collectively responsible for looking after our environment.”

Tourism Holdings Ltd Chief Executive Officer Grant Webster
“We, as tourism operators need to create sustainable tourism experiences. It starts with awareness and education. We take these responsibilities very seriously.

“New Zealand is a touring country and we all know that driver safety is one area where we need constant education in addition to rules and regulations. Generally, travellers want to do the right thing; we need to explain what traveling responsibly means here in New Zealand.

“Tiaki embodies both the why and the how, and we have a real opportunity to influence behaviour to care for New Zealand together.”


Tourism Industry Aotearoa Chief Executive Chris Roberts
“While seven organisations have been involved in bringing Tiaki – Care for New Zealand and The Tiaki Promise to life this initiative is so much bigger than that and will require the whole industry, as well as travellers themselves, both Kiwis and visitors to New Zealand, to get on board.

“TIA is encouraging tourism operators throughout the country to share the Tiaki Promise – from hotel receptions to activities and attractions, so that our international and domestic visitors understand the importance of caring for our country.”


Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Stephen England-Hall
“We all have a responsibility to care for New Zealand and Tiaki – Care for New Zealand captures the connection New Zealanders have to our home. It invites travellers to be guardians of New Zealand alongside kiwis.

“Tiaki reminds people to travel responsibly as they enjoy what our country has to offer, making it very clear what behaviours are expected from putting rubbish in the bin to driving safely.

“We invite everyone to stand behind Tiaki to care for New Zealand for now and for future generations.”

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