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New Zealand Eco-Wise Travel Guide

New Zealand is a beautiful country. Help keep our towns, cities, parks, beaches and native bush free from pollution and waste. Please also respect our unique flora and fauna. Be active and get involved in caring for the environment. It is everyone’s responsibility.

Here are some tips on how to be eco-wise and leave gentle footprints when travelling in New Zealand.

Waste-wise

Litter-free places are healthy places. Waste is hazardous if disposed of incorrectly and can attract pests and disease. Reduce the amount of waste you make and dispose of it responsibly.

Don’t litter

Always put all your rubbish in the bin provided, or take it away with you when you leave.

Reuse and recycle

Reuse plastic bags or try not to use them at all.
Seek out recycling centres for paper, glass, plastic and cans.
Ask your local i-SITE for the nearest recycling station.
Reuse your water bottles.

Check out the Reduce Your Rubbish website.

Dispose of waste sensibly

Only use a designated dump station.
Get a list of dumpstations from the i-SITE.

Water-wise

Lakes, rivers, beaches and harbours are our treasures and also the habitat of many plants, fish and bird species. When enjoying our waterways, please be sure to keep them free of rubbish, spills and introduced species, so that they can be enjoyed by generations to come. You can help by:

washing and drying your gear between waterways to prevent the spread of unwanted pests like didymo (freshwater algae).

Water is a precious resource, and many New Zealand towns and cities experience water shortages during the summer months. You can help by:

using water sparingly
taking shorter showers.

Energy-wise

Using less energy helps reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in our air. This is because less fossil fuels are being burnt to produce electricity. You can help by:

switching off your electrical equipment when not in use
turning off the lights when you leave the room
asking tourism operators about their environmentally friendly practices.

Travel-wise

Around 20 percent of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transport. You can help reduce this and save fuel by:

walking and cycling instead of driving
using public transport
reducing your speed on the open road
switching off your engine when stopped
choosing to buy or hire a fuel-efficient vehicle
offsetting your emissions by buying individual carbon credits. Check out the carboNZero Household Calculator

Travel safely

New Zealand’s weather changes rapidly, so be prepared.
Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.
Be firewise – observe fire bans and always check before lighting fires.
Ask your local Department of Conservation visitor centre or i-SITE for safety information and advice.

Web-wise

For more useful links see:

Feel inspired and leave refreshed by the places you visit.

Printable PDF of the NZ Eco-Wise Travel Guide

This guide is also supplied as a print-friendly PDF for distribution by travel agents, tourism operators and accommodation providers to their customers. Before printing it, refer to the Instructions for adding your logo to the New Zealand Eco-Wise Travel Guide below.

Download PDF of this web content as a one page flyer, excluding web links (66KB)

How to add your company’s logo to this New Zealand Eco-Wise Travel Guide

The New Zealand Eco-Wise Travel Guide is intended to be included in the package of information – like brochures, maps and travel tips – you regularly give to tourists and travellers.

If you would like to add your company’s logo to the Guide before printing it, here are the instructions on what you need to do:

Feedback

We welcome your feedback and comments on this draft guide. Please email eco-wise@mfe.govt.nz.

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