Our Carbon Positve Story
We are Wanaka's first carbon positive tourism operator.
Words set us on an appropriate road. Actions carry us forward!
Our Tiaki Commitment
Tiaki means to care for people, place and culture. New Zealand is precious, and everyone who lives and travels here has a responsibility to look after it. In 2022 Lake Wanaka Cruises signed up to the New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Commitment. This is a joint initiative between TIA - Tourisim Industry Aotearoa, TINZT - Tourism Industry NZ Trust and Tourism 2025. As a consequence of that commitment, we have measured, audited and offset our emissions to the value of 125% by planting NZ native forest in Atui Regional Park.
Our Certification
Our carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions have been measured, audited and certified by Carbon Positive New Zealand. Certification of our carbon emissions data is conducted in alignment with the 2022 NZ
MFE measurement data which has been produced following international standards ISO 14064-1:2018 and the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standards. For more information please see 'What is measured' below.
Our Offsets
While offsetting emissions to carbon zero / carbon neutral is a great start, it’s important to go further than just ‘offsetting for the damage done’. Achieving Carbon Positive certification allows us to make a positive difference to the environment through offsetting 125% of our calculated emissions.
Native trees are planted in Atui Regional Park by an independent third party in a permanent forest, using calculations from government emissions data. Offset calculations are based on 100% native trees (no shrubs) that must be able to reach a minimum height of 5m, with sequestration measured for the first 50
years of growth. Research of New Zealand sequestration shows that 2.3 native trees can sequester a Tonne of CO2e emissions over the first 50 years. Growth rates then slow after 50 years with trees that breakdown being replaced by the regrowth in the same forest. Tree growth rates vary across regional sites according to temperature, soil, site quality, rainfall, types of trees planted, and the management of the planting process. To mitigate variables we only calculate emissions based on the first 50 years of tree growth. The additional slowing growth rates after year 50 are used as margin for variables/losses.
Your Contribution
Each ticket purchased from Lake Wanaka Cruises contributes to planting of native forest as detailed above. By purchasing from us you are contributing to a positive environmental outcome for future generations. From time to time we will vary the sites at which we plant native forest, however our commitment will remain the same, only forever protected native forest will be used to offset our emissions.
What is Measured
Carbon Positive uses 2022 emission calculations from the Ministry for the Environment to measure carbon emissions. Available data allows the measurement of emissions from 10 key sources: fuel, purchased energy, working from home, refrigerant, travel, freight, water/wastewater, waste, agriculture, and construction emissions. Where possible these sources show a breakdown of greenhouse gas type including CO2-e (carbon dioxide equivalent), CO2, CH4 (methane), and N20 (nitrous oxide).
The reporting follows the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol that allocates GHG emission sources into 3 scopes:
• Scope 1: Direct emissions controlled by the individual or organisation, e.g. business vehicles, business equipment and buildings owned by the organisation.
• Scope 2: Indirect emissions from energy purchased & used by the individual or organisation, e.g. electricity, heating, cooling
• Scope 3: All other emissions from sources that the individual or organisation uses but does not control, e.g. air travel, working from home, staff transport to the office, transport of goods by a third party, leased assets, purchased goods & services, capital goods, & waste from operations.