Member News

Mindfulness in the Trees Highlights Ways to Boost Wellbeing 

4 November 2022

A successful collaboration between three Queenstown organisations – Ziptrek Ecotours, headlight and lululemon Queenstown – saw locals tune into their wellbeing and reconnect with nature in a Guided Mindfulness x Ziplining Experience on Bob’s Peak.  

GO Rentals is first rental car company in NZ to offer new Tesla

6 October 2022

GO Rentals is thrilled to be the first Rental Car company in New Zealand to offer a fleet of the new Tesla Model Y.

Celebrating a Decade of Native Habitat Restoration at Glendhu Bay

6 October 2022

A bare section of reserve land along Lake Wānaka is almost unrecognisable now with a forest of tall native trees and shrubs showcasing what a purposeful native habitat restoration initiative can achieve.

Whakamana youth mental health programme takes off across the Whakatipu

29 September 2022

A targeted programme to improve the mental wellbeing of Whakatipu school children is taking off thanks to an unique community-business partnership and funding from Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group.

Visitor arrivals highest since pandemic began

29 September 2022

GCH Aviation’s Garden City Helicopters and the Akaroa Craft Distillery launch the first Christchurch to Akaroa Heli Gin Experience.

Iconic red Shotover Jet goes green

6 July 2022

Tāhuna Queenstown’s iconic red Shotover Jet is going green, with the unveiling of a world first electric jet boat designed solely for tourism.

East by West Ferry Champions Social Cause

20 Jan 2022

The East by West Ferry joined the Wellington Tourism Capability Programme in 2021. With the introduction of their new electric ferry service imminent, the ferry company turned to look at other areas of impact:

TSS Earnslaw - Decarbonising and preserving 109 years of heritage

18 Oct 2021

A feasibility study is under way to investigate whether the TSS Earnslaw can become carbon neutral or carbon zero whilst conserving her proud heritage.

KiwiRail gets world-first green loan certification for new ferries

KiwiRail’s $350m loan facility to finance the purchase of two new Interislander ferries has become the first shipping loan in the world to be certified by the Climate Bond Initiative.

Promoting and encouraging an accessible and inclusive Queenstown

Over the last few months, DQ has been reviewing and enriching the Accessible Queenstown online resource on queenstownNZ.nz for visitors with access needs.

Air NZ and MBIE scope out Sustainable Aviation Fuel industry

Air New Zealand’s journey to net-zero has reached another significant milestone with the airline and MBIE joining forces to bring Sustainable Aviation Fuel one step closer to becoming a reality.

Southern hemisphere’s first electric ferry launched in Wellington

August 2021

The first fully electric, high speed passenger ferry in the southern hemisphere was officially launched today in Wellington, where the locally built vessel will sail commuters across Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

GO Electric with GO Rentals

You can now tour the South Island of New Zealand in a Tesla and support tourism businesses leading the way in sustainability along your journey.

Queenstown Airport introduces Sunflower Lanyards to support those with hidden disabilities

People with disabilities travelling through Queenstown Airport can now do so a little easier thanks to the introduction of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme.

Tree planting as part of employee's onboarding – #TiakiChampions

Ziptrek Ecotours began their native tree-planting project on Bob’s Peak 11 years ago. Since then, the eco-tour operator has planted over 5000 native trees and scrubs.

In-flight waste diverted from landfill

Air New Zealand project diverts nearly 900 tonnes of in-flight waste from landfill.

The Rees joins urban trapping movement

The Rees Hotel joins the newest addition to the local urban trapping movement family.

Carbon-Free Ziplining

Queenstown’s Ziptrek Ecotours was stoked to be celebrating Christmas early with the announcement it’s the first Queenstown company to achieve Zero Carbon Business for 2019.

Innovation is the Spirit of Queenstown

Queenstown’s first dinner cruise is starting this summer thanks to a partnership between tourism operator Southern Discoveries and one of the town’s top restaurateurs.

Discover Waitomo: no use for single-use plastic

Discover Waitomo commits to going completely plastic-free by 2021.