Eco Tourism in New Zealand

I have a hippie friend who emigrated to New Zealand over 25 years ago. Every time she visits the States, she regales me with her building, gardening and energy stories. I was and am constantly amazed at her energy and abilities to build and innovate. 

Now she has Started a Eco- Lodge http://www.WaiotemaramaFalls.com

Just to make sure that the lodge is eco friendly – here is our interview: 

Me: How is your energy generated?   

• Candy: The main power lines for this district run through the valley, so the property was hooked to ‘the grid’ 32 years ago.  However, we are investigating a combination solar, wind, hydro generation plan in the next 5 years.  We have invested in a larger “Eco” water cylinder that is suitable for alternative heating.  We heat water through our woodburner.

Me: Tell me about your low impact lifestyle-   

• Candy: We are not huge consumers.  We drive as little as possible, planning and pooling where possible.  We live 50km (30mi) from a supermarket and most retail (although only 5 minutes from the local shops).  We don’t eat McD or KFC and we recycle packaging, plastics, glass, metal etc.
• We incinerate our combustible rubbish on the property.  This might not seem ‘green’, but it reduces landfill space (fast oxidation vs slow oxidation) and leaching.
• We’re energy conscious with respect to our use of electricity.

Me: Do you grow organic food- just not in driveway?   

• Candy: Yes, the garden is an organic space – we use compost, manure, fish liquid fertiliser and organic herbicides (like the garlic spray).  We pluck insects off by hand when necessary! 

Me: Do you feed guests with organic food.   

• Candy: Yes and they love it.  We encourage guests to come and harvest their vegies themselves, and they can really appreciate the freshness and quality.

Me: Give me the most ‘green’ things you do and the non-green i.e non-toxic furnishings, etc..   

• Candy- UN-GREEN THINGS: I’m not sure about the furnishings!  Probably incinerating the rubbish, which will oxidise anyway.  We just save transporting around the place in our car then on a truck!

GREEN THINGS:

1. We use primarily an electronic medium for marketing our business and distributing information.  Some brochures, no business cards or pre-printed stationery.  IF we print, it is usually onto the second side of a piece of paper.

2.  We hunt, trap and kill possums and goats.  They are destroying the native forests of NZ.  Each possum or goat killed saves thousands of trees.  Loss of forest and the movement of the goats also means accelerated erosion.

3.  We plant 100s of trees each year.

4.  We get rid of  birds that displace the native species.  Some native trees rely on specific birds (like the native woodpigeon) to partially digest and distribute their seeds.  By ridding magpies and mynas we reduce the pressure on these noble and defenseless native species.

5.  We get rid of  rats and stoats (same reason as above).