Our Commitment To A Sustainable Future
Destination Hauraki Coromandel (DHC) is pleased to share our community's vision that tourism enriches life for locals and visitors, contributing directly to the protection and enhancement of our cultural and natural environment.
We pledge to lead local industry sustainability initiatives and practices, with our activities filtered through a lens of reduced environmental impact and our actions undertaken in a socially and culturally respectful manner. This will allow us to live up to our responsibilities in supporting the New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Commitment and Tiaki Promise.
We need to walk the talk to progress towards this bold vision and fulfil our purpose.
SustainabilityProgramme for Hauraki Coromandel
Change is happening for the better, by choice and global influence, from governments and consumers. At last, we are committed to a path that honours our region’s reputation.
It is our organisation's vision that Tourism enriches life for locals and visitors, contributing directly to the protection and enhancement of our cultural and natural environment.
By joining us in this vision, your business can demonstrate how important our environment is by reducing waste, leading the way with carbon free actions and helping biodiversity in Hauraki Coromandel thrive. Having committed, people will trust that visiting your place will help our place be Forever good for your soul.
We’ve created a programme that goes beyond greenwashing to something that’s truly sustainable.
Our sustainability programme tackles 3 goals, with actions, designed to help your business progress.
By helping Hauraki Coromandel be forever good for your soul, straight away your business will commit to step 1, allowing you to easily progress to step 2.
The Ambassador Programme is the only step that requires time away from your business (a proposed 3-hour workshop in your local town). When you’re ready you can choose to advance your commitment to Step 3.
Your Journey Starts Here
Sustainability Programme Sign Up
Sustainability Programme Overview
Sustainability Programme Participants
Sustainability Tips for Businesses
Understanding Carbon, Waste & Predator Free
Carbon Offsetting - Why Reducing Emissions Comes First
When we talk about carbon emissions, we're talking about the stuff that's heating up our planet and causing climate change. It's a big deal, and we're all looking for ways to do our part in fixing it. One popular idea is carbon offsetting, but there's something you should know: it's not the first thing we should do.
Here's the deal:
Cutting Down on Emissions is Key
The best way to tackle this problem is to reduce the amount of carbon we put into the air. That means using less energy, switching to cleaner sources like solar or wind power, and being more mindful of our everyday actions.
Offsetting is a Backup Plan
Carbon offsetting is a backup plan. It's what we do when we can't reduce our emissions anymore. It involves things like planting trees or investing in projects that suck carbon out of the air.
Trees Take Time to Work Their Magic
Planting trees to offset our emissions is awesome, but they take time to soak up all that carbon. Usually, it takes about 50 years for trees to fully balance out the emissions we’ve created. That's a long time!
Speeding Things Up with More Trees
Here's the cool part: you get to decide how fast you want to make a difference. By planting more trees, you can speed up the process. Instead of waiting 50 years, you might offset your emissions in just 5 or 10 years! Remember, though, offsetting should be the last option after you've tried to cut down your emissions. But if you do need to offset, planting more trees is a great way to do it faster.
So, here's the bottom line: Let's focus on reducing our emissions first. That's the most important thing we can do. Then, if we need to, we can use carbon offsetting as a backup plan. And if we really want to make a difference fast, let's plant more trees.
How Your Visitors Can Participate
Our respect for nature and our beautiful environment unites us in The Coromandel, it’s why we are here.
It’s a place where nature and people connect, a place that gives back, that is forever good for your soul.
The responsibility to take care quickly becomes a passion that is infectious, with a rising momentum that will tip the balance in favour of our voiceless native species. Only then will nature start to thrive, as locals truly appreciate what a thing of beauty this place is. And visitors will long to return, to recharge their soul.