KAITIAKITANGA
Kaitiakitanga is the Māori principle of guardianship and protection of our natural environment. It reflects our shared responsibility to care for the land, sea, waterways, and wildlife, ensuring they are protected for future generations. A kaitiaki is a guardian, and everyone has a role to play in preserving the places we live, work, and visit.
At Kaikōura Kayaks, kaitiakitanga is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to operating in a way that minimises our environmental impact while protecting the unique marine environment that makes Kaikōura so special. Through sustainable practices, responsible wildlife interactions, and environmental stewardship, we strive to ensure our natural taonga can be enjoyed by future generations. We encourage both our staff and our guests to embrace this responsibility and help care for the environment during every visit.
OUR SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENT
Our commitment to kaitiakitanga is reflected in the way we operate every day. As a proud supporter of the New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Commitment, we embrace its vision of leading the world in sustainable tourism by embedding sustainable, environmentally, socially, culturally, and economically responsible practices throughout our business.
Our approach is guided by three core values:
- Kaitiakitanga – The guardianship and protection of our natural, built, and cultural resources for the benefit of current and future generations.
- Manaakitanga – Showing respect, hospitality, generosity, and care for others.
- Whanaungatanga – Building relationships through shared experiences and working together to create a sense of belonging.
FRIEND OF THE SEA CERTIFICATION
Kaikōura Kayaks is certified as sustainable under the World Sustainability Organization (WSO) Friend of the Sea Sustainable Dolphin and Whale Watching Standard.
In October 2019, Kaikōura Kayaks became the first Friend of the Sea-certified sustainable dolphin and whale watching operator in New Zealand, and the first kayak operator worldwide to achieve this certification. This recognition reflects our long-standing commitment to protecting Kaikōura's unique marine environment and operating to the highest standards of environmental responsibility.
Friend of the Sea is a leading international certification programme of the World Sustainability Organization (WSO), recognising products and tourism operators that actively protect and respect marine ecosystems.
Kaikōura Kayaks is also a member of the Tourism & Conservation Alliance (TCA) of the World Sustainability Foundation (WSF), an international network that promotes responsible tourism and supports marine conservation projects.
QUALMARK
We also have an environmental commitment to participation in Qualmark which is New Zealand tourism’s official quality assurance organisation, providing a trusted guide to quality travel experiences in New Zealand.
Since joining Qualmark we have successfully achieved gold level recognition, of which we are very proud.
Only those businesses that are delivering a quality sustainable experience, who have undergone an independent safety check, and showcase true New Zealand hospitality, are recognised through a Qualmark award.