Success Stories
Rotorua Sustainable Tourism Charter members are always implementing new and innovative sustainable business practices. Check back here regularly to learn about the contributions Charter member businesses are making towards sustainability.
Aroha Tours – loving NZ
Jul 1, 2010
Veronika Wasel established Aroha Tours in 2000 and has been a Charter member since February 2007. The company name is a hint to one of its key goals; making visitors fall in love with New Zealand. The company’s focus is on exclusive and personalised high end luxury tours for VIPs and small groups. Visitors have the option of choosing from set itineraries or tailoring an itinerary specific to their needs. Veronika employs a core group of five highly trained and knowledgeable guides, some who speak more than two languages and all as passionate as she is about New Zealand. All guides are briefed on the company’s environmental policies including its involvement with the Charter.
“The majority of our customers are from overseas and our only promotional tool is our website. While this requires investing in a very good website it also means we don’t need to produce thousands of expensive brochures that consume lots of paper, chemicals and energy” says Veronika. Not surprisingly many of the company’s high end visitors are aware of environmental issues.
Adhering to sound environmental practices has always been important to Veronika and this is reflected in the business. Heat pumps have been installed at the office and food waste is composted. Recycling is undertaken both at the office and on tour. However, the company’s key environmental issue is fuel consumption and the associated carbon emissions. The company has recently taken significant steps to address this issue with the purchase of two new fuel efficient Hyundai diesel luxury SUVs. Each of these vehicles consumes 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres which is surprisingly little for an SUV. As a comparison, a new Toyota Camry sedan consumes 8.8 litres per 100 kilometres and the company’s previous vehicles consumed 10 litres per 100 kilometres. “Our new vehicles have reduced the company’s carbon emissions from fuel by 18 percent which is significant considering the distances they travel” says Veronika. As a Charter member and environmentalist Veronika is committed to further reducing the company’s carbon emissions. In the long term she intends investigating such options as bio diesel and hybrid SUVs.
