Our Values
What we believe and how it shapes everything we do
Sustainability
Looking after our community and this land isn't separate from what we do — it's how we do it. Our commitment shapes everything, from local procurement and reducing waste, to cutting water use and caring for our animals' welfare.
We consider our organic waste a precious commodity. It all stays on the property and is put to work in a variety of ways — feed for our animals, mulch for our garden beds, compost for future planting, bedding for animals and natural pest control.
We relish working with others to reduce waste — from repurposing items rather than buying new, to gathering cardboard from our neighbours as a natural weed suppressant for our new garden beds, to working with suppliers on more sustainable packaging and freight.
We spend the majority of our budget with local suppliers and businesses.
Over the 18 years we've owned our property, we've planted hundreds of native plants, carefully selected to create a wildlife haven that provides a source of food all year round and will thrive in our conditions.
Our rainwater is collected and stored for use on the gardens. Passive heating design keeps the house warm and in winter, firewood from our property and our neighbours stokes our solid fuel cooker — which also heats our water and the radiators throughout the house.
For more on our sustainability initiatives, keep an eye on our Journal & Media page for updates.
Kaitiakitanga
As kaitiaki, we hold a responsibility to protect and care for the natural world — the climate, land, water and living systems that sustain us. When nature thrives, so do our families, our community and our business.
The air, mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, sea and biodiversity around us are ours to look after for future generations. A simple respect for nature sits at the heart of both our daily lives and how we run our business.
Manaakitanga
Manaakitanga underpins everything we do — respect, generosity, care, kindness and hospitality. It's one of the most important values we hold, because it strengthens our connection to each other and to everyone who joins us at the table.
For us, manaakitanga means more than serving a good meal. It's in the way we welcome you when you arrive, the care we take with every ingredient we grow, forage, or catch and the time we give you to simply sit, talk and feel at home. It's a value we extend not only to our guests, but to our staff, our animals, our land and our wider community.
When you share a meal with us, you're not just a guest — you're part of our whānau.
Tiaki Promise
Tiaki – Care for New Zealand was set up by a group of New Zealand tourism organisations to encourage travelers, local and international, to care for this country as much as we do.
Tiaki means to care for people and place. The Tiaki Promise is a commitment to care for Aotearoa New Zealand, now and for future generations. We wholeheartedly support this promise and we encourage everyone who visits Kaikōura to act as guardians of this land.
As part of the Tiaki Promise, we ask all our guests to:
Care for land, sea and nature — tread lightly and leave no trace
Travel safely — with care and consideration for others
Respect culture — travel with an open heart and mind
Show your support by using #tiakipromise wherever you go.
