ZEALANDIA Achieves Toitū Carbonzero Certification

Wellington’s urban eco-sanctuary ZEALANDIA is a showcase for environmental best practice and recently has been Toitū carbonzero certified for the fifth consecutive year. 

“Sustainability is one of the key drivers for ZEALANDIA so it’s important we reduce our environmental footprint as much as possible. We’ve cut down our emissions by 17% from where we began counting five years ago,” says Matt Valentine, Manager Corporate Services.  Some of the initiatives that have helped ZEALANDIA reduce carbon emissions by a further 2% this year include introducing electric shuttle vehicles, changing to LED lights, and introducing better recycling facilities and processes. 

“A year ago, with funding from Meridian and EECA, we acquired two fully electric vehicles to shuttle visitors between Wellington i-Site, top of the Cable Car and ZEALANDIA. This has cut down on our diesel use and will help reduce our carbon footprint even further in the future,” Mr Valentine says. 

Toitū carbonzero certification means ZEALANDIA has measured the carbon dioxide emissions and removals generated by our business operations, including petrol used by vehicles, electricity, all business travel, and waste, across the past five years.  ZEALANDIA has made a 17% reduction in emissions since its first year in the programme and continues to set targets to further reduce its carbon emissions. ZEALANDIA is in a unique situation, as its extensive native forests sequester sufficient carbon to allow the organisation to achieve net zero carbon emissions.  

“The ZEALANDIA Green Team continues to promote environmentally sustainable practices across our whole organisation. Recent achievements include developing a Sustainability Policy a commitment to sourcing new retail goods from local suppliers for our gift shop and supplying reusable cups to all staff and for use by night tour visitors,” Mr Valentine says. 

Toitū Envirocare Chief Executive, Dr Ann Smith, says “ZEALANDIA provides a wonderful example of how conservation goals can be achieved in an inner-city location. ZEALANDIA is one of Wellington’s most popular tourist destinations and an example of how carbon reductions can be achieved alongside ongoing visitor growth. For local and international tourists ZEALANDIA is a showcase for restoration of biodiversity and meaningful climate action.” 

 
 
Note: ZEALANDIA’s emissions this year were 89.29 tCO2e, 2% lower than last year’s total of 90.99 tCO2e and 17% lower than the base year (2014-15) total of 107.31 tCO2e.  

Photo: One of Zealandia’s electric shuttles. Credit: EECA