Skip to content
  • About
  • Partner with Us
  • Indonesia
  • Subscribe
  • Log In
Primary Menu
  • Home
  • Latest
  • Topics
  • News
  • Brief
  • Interview
  • Opinion
  • Figure
  • Infographic
  • Video
  • Community
  • Partner
  • Press Release
  • Youth
  • Global
  • Featured
  • Soft News

The Tiaki Promise Encourages Tourists to Care for New Zealand’s Nature

The commitment calls for a collective participation from visitors to take part in preserving New Zealand’s natural landscape.
by Kresentia Madina August 26, 2022
A new unfurling silver fern frond against the blue sky as the background. The fern is called koru, which is an integral symbol of new life, growth, strength and peace in Māori culture.

The fern is called koru, which is an integral symbol of new life, growth, strength, and peace in Māori culture. | Photo by Kieran Somerville on Unsplash.

New Zealand is known for its stunning natural landscape. From the vast mountains to magnificent coastlines, the country’s nature is a sight that attracts tourists. Tourism contributed to 21% of NZ’s export earnings and 14% of the nation’s employment.

Hence, preserving New Zealand’s nature becomes a collective responsibility for citizens and visitors. Recognizing the importance of its nature, New Zealand is inviting visitors to care for the country through the Tiaki Promise.

What is the Tiaki Promise?

The word tiaki in Māori means ‘to care, conserve, and protect.’ The Tiaki Promise is a commitment to care for New Zealand through sharing connections with the natural world. This commitment primarily seeks to ensure that people who visit New Zealand take part in caring for the country’s nature.

The bond between the tangata whenua (people of this land) and their nature goes deep. Nature is intrinsically intertwined with their lives; each earth relic has its own stories and significance for their culture. Therefore, to commit to the Tiaki Promise is to allow ourselves to see nature through the Indigenous lens, form a deeper bond with the place, and reflect our attitudes and behaviors towards nature.

The Tiaki Promise is as follows: “While traveling in New Zealand, I will: Care for land, sea, and nature, treading lightly and leaving no trace; Travel safely, showing care and consideration for all; Respect culture, traveling with an open heart and mind.”

Achieving sustainable tourism

A collaborative effort is the heart of the Tiaki Promise. The commitment is formed with the support and participation of seven public and private organizations and an independent Tikangan Advisor.

One of the collaborators is Air New Zealand, which recently released a new safety video containing the essence of the Tiaki Promise. The video features the Māori storyteller Joe Harawira and tells a story of a young man named Tiaki who visits the four Guardians of this world on a waka rererangi (flying canoe). The video wants to reaffirm Air New Zealand’s intention toward sustainable tourism.

The director Jason Bock said that sustainability plays a huge role in the process of filming the video. “Conceptually, all the elements in the film needed to incorporate sustainability; from the animals in the forest being native and non-damaging to the environment to Tiaki’s korowai being made from organic materials,” he added.

Culture and sustainability

In taking care of its nature, New Zealand chooses the approach rooted in its own culture. The Tiaki Promise simultaneously introduces not only the nation’s pledge towards sustainability but also its solid cultural identity. The commitment also reminds us that no matter where or who we are, taking care of the earth is always a collective responsibility.

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma


Subscribe to Green Network Asia
Strengthen your personal and professional development with cross-sectoral insights on sustainability-related issues and sustainable development across the Asia Pacific and beyond.
Select Your Subscription Plan
Kresentia Madina
Kresentia Madina
Reporter at Green Network Asia | Website |  + postsBio

Madina is the Assistant Manager for Digital Publications at Green Network Asia. She graduated from Universitas Indonesia with a bachelor's degree in English Literature. She has three years of professional experience working on GNA international digital publications, programs, and partnerships particularly on social and cultural issues.

  • Kresentia Madina
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/kresentiamadina/
    GRI’s Updated Sustainability Standards on Climate Change and Energy
  • Kresentia Madina
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/kresentiamadina/
    Australian Climate Visa for Citizens of Tuvalu: Showcasing cross-border partnership in light of the climate crisis
  • Kresentia Madina
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/kresentiamadina/
    A Worrying State of Insect Decline
  • Kresentia Madina
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/kresentiamadina/
    Australia Released a Sustainable Finance Taxonomy to Support Net-zero Transition

Continue Reading

Previous: Developing Sustainable Urban Farming in Singapore
Next: Conserving Iran’s Wetland Areas

Related Stories

Vegetable farming How Plant the Emirates Aims to Support Food Self-Sufficiency in the UAE
  • Featured
  • Soft News

How Plant the Emirates Aims to Support Food Self-Sufficiency in the UAE

by Attiatul Noor July 4, 2025
figure of houses and pipes that emit smoke GRI’s Updated Sustainability Standards on Climate Change and Energy
  • Exclusive
  • Featured
  • Soft News

GRI’s Updated Sustainability Standards on Climate Change and Energy

by Kresentia Madina July 3, 2025
Charcoal chip and charcoal ashes. Looking into Biochar as a Bioremediation Agent
  • Featured
  • Soft News

Looking into Biochar as a Bioremediation Agent

by Ayu Nabilah July 2, 2025
a tuvalu flag Australian Climate Visa for Citizens of Tuvalu: Showcasing cross-border partnership in light of the climate crisis
  • Featured
  • Soft News

Australian Climate Visa for Citizens of Tuvalu: Showcasing cross-border partnership in light of the climate crisis

by Kresentia Madina July 1, 2025
Small Islands in the middle of Raja Ampat seas Nickel Mining in Raja Ampat and the Widespread Cost of Natural Resource Exploitation
  • Featured
  • Soft News

Nickel Mining in Raja Ampat and the Widespread Cost of Natural Resource Exploitation

by Andi Batara June 30, 2025
blue refugee tent Lumbung Sosial: Challenges and Opportunities of Indonesia’s Social Barn Program
  • Exclusive
  • Featured
  • Soft News

Lumbung Sosial: Challenges and Opportunities of Indonesia’s Social Barn Program

by Kesya Arla June 27, 2025

About Us

  • GNA CEO’s Letter
  • GNA In-House Team
  • GNA Author Network
  • GNA Press Release Guidelines
  • GNA Op-ed Article Guidelines
  • GNA Community Content Guidelines
  • GNA Internship
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
© 2021-2025 Green Network Asia