EcoZip Adventures – Conservation Without Boundaries

Conservation has long been woven into how EcoZip Adventures operates, from native planting and weed and pest management, to developing its own native plant nursery.

Co-founders Gavin Oliver and Chris Hollister saw an opportunity to extend that impact beyond EcoZip’s operations on Waiheke Island and in Kaikōura. Through marine conservation charity Moana Mark, the business began supporting the Kororā Monitoring & Research Project at Helps Pōhatu Conservation Trust on Banks Peninsula.

The project helps protect one of New Zealand’s most significant populations of Kororā (Little Blue Penguins), including the White-Flippered Penguin, a local subspecies found in the Canterbury region.

Finding the right project to support

EcoZip recognised that tourism businesses have an important role to play in protecting nature, but finding the right project to support is not always straightforward.

Through Moana Mark, the team was able to connect the success of the business with a conservation project already doing meaningful, long-term work.

The Kororā project was a strong fit, with local knowledge, scientific credibility, a long-term focus and an ongoing need for funding.

EcoZip’s contribution supports the monitoring of more than 230 nest boxes, predator control, habitat restoration, research, education programmes and conservation management.

It also provides EcoZip with a compelling and authentic conservation story to share with visitors, staff and partners.

Keeping conservation claims credible

A key challenge was making sure the partnership had real substance behind it, with support going to a project delivering practical conservation outcomes.

“We needed confidence that the project had credible science, robust monitoring and clear reporting,” says Gavin. “That was important for the conservation outcomes, and for sharing the story with guests in a way that felt meaningful.”

EcoZip also had to make complex conservation work meaningful for guests, explaining what the funding supports, why it matters and how visitor experiences can contribute to conservation beyond the places they visit.

Creating benefits beyond the boundary

The partnership allows EcoZip to support conservation beyond its own operating environments while contributing to nationally important biodiversity work on Banks Peninsula.

For the Kororā project, ongoing support helps protect habitat, monitor breeding success, control predators and build knowledge about this at-risk species.

For co-founder Gavin Oliver, the concept of “commercial conservation” is about connecting business success with positive outcomes for nature. “We wanted to bridge that gap by connecting a successful tourism business with a proven conservation project”.

“It shows tourism can be a force for positive environmental outcomes, rather than simply a user of natural resources.”

The benefits reach beyond biodiversity. The initiative strengthens staff pride and purpose, provides visitors, tour operators and corporate clients a genuine example of conservation in action, and complements EcoZip’s wider restoration initiatives, including Project Tāne and Future Forests.

Partnering for greater impact 

EcoZip’s experience shows the value of collaboration. Through initiatives such as Moana Mark, tourism businesses can support credible, well-established conservation projects and contribute to outcomes larger than they could achieve alone.

Want to take a similar step to support nature and biodiversity in Aotearoa?

Akiaki’s Restoring Nature course can help you identify practical actions to protect and enhance nature, while strengthening your visitor experience and connection to place.

All 12 Akiaki: Advancing Tourism courses are free for TIA members. Register today and start your sustainability journey: akiaki.nz