Islands Preserved

New Zealand tourism is as much reliant upon maintaining the highest environment standards and preserving the Maori concept of kaitiakitanga – guardianship of the land and the animals – as it is giving visitors a great experience, say industry leaders. New Zealand Tourism chief executive George Hickton said New Zealand was aiming to become the world’s first carbon-neutral nation, beginning with offsets through tree planting and working up to the use of  technology to minimise emissions. “Kaitiakitanga guides us to preserve and protect Aotearoa for generations to come,” Hickton said. “I think we can show how a small country that cares can get it right.” Department of Conservation director-general Al Morrison emphasised the more than eight million hectares of public conservation land, one-third of the country’s area, didn’t just belong to New Zealanders. “Because New Zealand is such an isolated island nation, its plant and animal life has evolved uniquely,” Morrison said. “We do not believe that it belongs only to us. We think we have a responsibility to the world to ensure that this place remains for all to enjoy and benefit from.”