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Queenstown operators help protect New Zealand coastlines

Monday 20 September 2010, 3:11PM

By Ziptrek Ecotours/ Southern Discoveries

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Sustainable Coastlines volunteers at work
Sustainable Coastlines volunteers at work Credit: Ziptrek Ecotours/ Southern Discoveries
Ziptrek in action
Ziptrek in action Credit: Ziptrek Ecotours/ Southern Discoveries
Southern Discoveries in Milford Sound
Southern Discoveries in Milford Sound Credit: Ziptrek Ecotours/ Southern Discoveries

MILFORD

Queenstown may not be beside the sea, but that hasn’t stopped some of the resort’s leading tourism operators teaming up to help support a charity focused on protecting Aotearoa’s coastlines.

Flying fox operators Ziptrek Ecotours, Milford Sound tour boat company Southern Discoveries, AJ Hackett and The Rees Hotel – all committed to sustainable practice - have extended their green ethos further afield to support Sustainable Coastlines

Each donated a trip as part of an exciting prize package auctioned at the Sustainable Coastlines Charity Ball, which took place in Auckland on Saturday (18 September). The Southern Discoveries package includes an Awesomenz transport component where guests travel to Milford on a modern, low-emission glass-roof luxury coach before joining Southern Discoveries for a cruise through the fiord to take in wildlife, tumbling waterfalls and the towering beauty of Mitre Peak. Ziptrek Ecotours takes guests on a two hour flying fox eco adventure high above Queenstown, the Rees Hotel is a stunning new estabilshment and pioneering adventure tourism operators AJ Hackett added a thrilling Nevis Arc swing to the package.

The ball aimed to fundraise for the “Love Your Coast” project- a huge series of coastal clean-up events across the country in December and to raise awareness for the protection and sustainability of New Zealand’s coastlines.

Sustainable Coastlines is a charity that works to provide ideas, coordination and support to communities in order for them to initiate, pursue and take ownership of local projects that will help improve their coastal environment. They focus on education and youth involvement, and many projects involve school children.

Charity co-founder and Event Director Sam Judd said the charity relied on the generosity of volunteers and organisations to coordinate projects such as coastal clean-ups, waste minimisation education and sustainable revenue practices such as those exhibited by the generous Queenstown donors.

“Our coastlines are vital to New Zealand’s tourism, fisheries and people’s wellbeing - it’s great to see Queenstown’s tourism industry get behind us,” he said. “Everyone benefits from our efforts to improve and sustain our coastal environments.”

Southern Discoveries General Manager John Robson said the company had a policy of proactively working with like-minded organisations to enhance and preserve New Zealand’s stunning natural environment for future generations to enjoy.

“By aligning ourselves with charities such as Sustainable Coastlines, and with the work we’re doing to protect native species and wildlife in Sinbad Gully, alongside Mitre Peak, together we can make a real difference.”

Ziptrek Ecotours General Manager Trent Yeo said his company had its principles deeply rooted in sustainable practice and was delighted to help.

“Sustainable Coastlines is doing vital work for all New Zealanders and we are very happy to support how we can and to help draw awareness to this organisation.”

About Ziptrek Ecotours
Ziptrek Ecotours is Queenstown’s newest adventure activity. It delivers a two-hour flying fox eco-adventure where guests zip between observation platforms located in tree huts high above Queenstown. At each aerial launch platform, interpretative panels offer ecological education before guests step off to soar down the cable, picking up speeds of up to 60km/hr. Ziptrek has gained several eco-credentials since opening in Queenstown in 2009 and the company is continually looking for opportunities to develop and implement sustainable initiatives as part of its business practice. Initiatives range from staff ‘bike to work’ incentives to installing a remote solar panel power system which runs a wireless network in the trees. Ziptrek is also piloting biodiesel in its vehicles as part of the Queenstown Lakes Biodiesel Consortium and is a patron of the Wakatipu Trails Trust which aims to build a world-class network of linked trails throughout the lower Wakatipu Basin for the community.

About Southern Discoveries

Southern Discoveries is the oldest and most well-established operator in Milford Sound. It works in partnership with the Fiordland Conservation Trust and DOC, to carry out a pest control program as part of the Sinbad Sanctuary Project - a conservation project that aims to see the remote valley of New Zealand’s most photographed mountain, Sinbad Gully, become a sanctuary for native species. In the 1970s Sinbad Gully was home to the last known New Zealand kakapo (the world’s rarest parrot) living on the mainland. Since then new species of gecko and skink have been discovered there. Southern Discoveries’ financial support and volunteer work helps protect native species like the Whio (Blue Duck) and encourages the return of Bellbirds, Tui and Kiwi. Southern Discoveries was one of six finalists from the Southland region up for the Corporate Conservation Award as part of the Southland Conservation Awards this month.


For more information about Sustainable Coastlines or a wide selection of images, visit www.sustainablecoastlines.org
For more information about Ziptrek Ecotours and Southern Discoveries visit www.ziptrek.com or www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz.