AusLeisure

As a local pioneer in sustainable business practices, Queenstown's Ziptrek Ecotours is raising awareness of environmental management issues on World Environment Day (WED) today (5th June).

The multi-award-winning established eco company is well respected for its environmental and fundraising commitment to the local community, and is using the occasion to remind staff, locals and visitors of the importance of being environmentally aware.

Operations Manager Mike Higson said Ziptrek Ecotours was always striving to find new ways to help promote environmental awareness while at the same time raising funds for local community projects.

Higson explains "since our launch over 600 man hours have been by donated by our staff to local projects, a large part of which was building the extension to the Tiki Trail walking track on Bob's Peak where we operate.

"We regularly donate funds and trip vouchers to projects as well as staff hours, because we take our social responsibility very seriously."

After almost four years in business, the sustainable company has successfully carried out over a quarter of a million 'zips' and demonstrated its commitment to its immediate environment by planting more than 2,500 native saplings on Bobs Peak to ensure future regeneration of the area.

The company contributes regularly to the local community, raising significant amounts of money for charities such as the Wakatipu Trails Trust, Youth Booth, Wakatipu Search and Rescue and Kiwi Birdlife Park's Tuatara enclosure.

Ziptrek Ecotours is also district sponsor for the Paper4trees initiative, educating schools about recycling and providing them with the opportunity to exchange their recycling for native trees. Since its involvement, more than 760 cubic meters of recycling has been saved from a trip to the landfill in exchange for 380 native trees planted in the wider local community.

As the original zipline tour in New Zealand, the company has picked up some prestigious eco awards including the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce Sustainable Business Award, a Fairfax Media Sustainable 60 Marketplace Award and achieved the much sought after Qualmark Enviro Gold standard.

Higson adds "we're hugely proud of our sustainable business practice which is a key differentiator for us in the competitive tourism marketplace and we're genuinely passionate about raising awareness of the environment."

Ziptrek Ecotours Sales and Marketing Manager Nicky Busst said the company's proven sustainable business practice gave them an important point of difference in the competitive tourism marketplace.

She explains "as well as providing a safe adventure activity accessible for all, we have a strong environmental ethic and our business philosophy is to drive eco-initiatives and support sustainable practice within the local community and further afield.

"Our staff are passionate about sustainability and educating our guests during the tours. Not only do our guests have the thrill and exhilaration of the ziplines, but they're introduced to the native beech forest and what we're doing with our regeneration projects. The feedback is phenomenal."

As New Zealand's original zipline tour, Ziptrek Ecotours has gone from strength to strength, growing its daily visitor numbers, developing team-building programmes for domestic and international incentive-orientated businesses, translating its brochures for foreign visitors and creating a mobile friendly version of its website.

World Environment Day is celebrated every year on 5th June to raise global awareness of the need to take positive environmental action. Run by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) there is a different city with a different theme each year and a week-long event programme to raise awareness.

For more information go to www.ziptrek.com

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