Sustainability

Taking Good Care Of Our World

Sustainability is an important focus for all of us here at Forgotten World Adventures.

We strive to grow an award-winning sustainable adventure tourism business with emphasis on our community, land and people. Our mission is to provide unforgettable experiences of a lifetime for all whilst ensuring we take good care of our world.

Keep scrolling to learn more…

Manaakitanga

Showing kindness, generosity and respect to others

We embrace ‘Manaakitanga’ – people are at the heart of our
business – our staff, our guests and our partners.

By employing over 30 seasonal staff, we offer financial stability to many families in the community; we source talent locally across all areas of the business

The contribution to nearby towns has been significant over the years and we now enjoy supporting many local businesses as well as artisan producers who sell their products in our souvenir gift shops

Ensuring the wider community benefits from our efforts is also essential to our ethos and growth

When it comes to our guests, delivering exceptional customer experiences is integral to everything we do

We pride ourselves on our understated Kiwi professionalism and friendly, helpful staff who will go above and beyond to ensure guests have a memorable and safe trip with us. We treat our guests like friends

We operate a Guest Education Plan for Responsible Travel to encourage guests to adopt our eco-friendly practices during their experience with us

Kotahitanga

The concept of togetherness

We champion ‘Kotahitanga’ across all areas of our business.

Community engagement is important to our business. Our whānau is actively encouraged to become involved in local community activities and initiatives.

We enjoy partnerships with some truly wonderful heritage attractions and operators in the King Country, including our friends at the Whangamōmona Hotel, Blue Duck Station, Lauren's Lavender Farm, Bradley's Garden, Omaka Lodge, Forgotten World Gardens and Posh Pioneers. Together we work to provide excellent customer service standards and truly unforgettable experiences

We support the Taumarunui Women's Refuge, a non-profit organisation which provides services to help women and their children escape violence in their lives and ultimately to help prevent and stop domestic violence in New Zealand. The refuge provides advocacy, support, advice and safety to local community members who experience unsafe relationships. We hope our efforts can go some way to making our community a safer and happier place to live, learn and work for these women and their families. Our 2024 fundraiser 'Ride For Refuge' raised $11,590

We enjoy strong relationships with other tourism operators in the region and sit across three Regional Tourism Operators (RTOs); Ruapehu, Taranaki and Whanganui

Kaitiakitanga

The concept of guardianship - to protect and respect our special place

We adopt ‘Kaitiakitanga’ as a business fundamental and actively promote a ‘what you
can do’ culture to staff and visitors alike in our attempts to protect and restore nature.

We are partners with East Taranaki Environment Collective (ETEC), a community led conservation initiative (administered by the East Taranaki Environment Trust) with a mission to protect and restore the ecosystem and biodiversity within an 18,000 hectare project area in east Taranaki. We work to control and eliminate invasive pest species using traps targeting mustelids, rats and possums.

The pest control operations, through the trap network and goat control, aim to restore the habitats native species such as kiwi, kokako and long-tailed bats need to thrive in east Taranaki. Our team operates 69 traps along a 7km section of the railway line on behalf of the ETEC project.

The traps are spaced approximately 150m apart between Te Were and Pohokura Saddle. We clear the traps on a monthly basis and keep a log.

We try to reduce our fuel emissions wherever possible and minimise waste throughout our operations

We're signed up to Refill NZ and support the #refillution, helping to reduce plastic pollution at source and use refillable bottles wherever possibles

In line with the Tiaki Promise we encourage guests to adopt the ‘Leave no Trace’ concept – to respect local cultures and be mindful of flora and fauna

We have a sustainable approach to food and waste disposal with numerous recycling stations and worm farms in place at base at the Forgotten World Motel and at our lunch stop at Tokirima

To help conserve water, we invite Motel guests to consider choosing to re-use their towels via an eco-friendly notice in bathrooms

our sustainable practices

New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Commitment

We use recyclable & environmentally sound products

Stoney Creek – we were the first company to partner with Stoney Creek to provide a staff uniform with maximum comfort and protection. They omit toxic chemicals from their manufacturing process of waterproof items and their plastic packaging is recyclable, compostable and water-soluble

Brebner Print – the FSC and PEFC certified print producer we use for our printed materials thus promoting the responsible and sustainable management of our forests

Eco Fresh – body care range supplied in rooms at the Forgotten World Motel, made from vegetable-based ingredients and ERP. Products are paraben and mineral free and supplied in our refillable bottles

Refillable glass milk bottles – we supply fresh milk in these daily to Forgotten World Motel guests, using reusable labels with today’s date – Goodbye individual plastic and cardboard bottles and cartons. Hello 100% zero waste!

Sustainable lunches on tour – we take an eco-friendly approach to our rail-side picnic lunches which eliminates plastic food and drink packaging – we use biodegradable paper plates, towels and cutlery and our worm farms do the rest! All food scraps go to local pigs

Reclaimed timber – we use this and other recycled materials for building projects, such as our gift shop out at Tokirima

We support local products and suppliers

Pouatu Forgotten World Mānuka Honey – sold in our gift and souvenirs shop

Solvej Swings – sustainably and locally produced by William and Jenny in Matiere, sold in our gift shop

Palliser Ridge & Blue Duck Station – luxury hypoallergenic eco-friendly lambs wool throws, sold in our gift shop

Midge’s Homemade Baking – ANZAC biscuits and mumbles supplied by our very own inhouse baker and Food Hero Midge Te Ahuru, sold in our gift shop

Spiral Farm – supplier of free range eggs for our breakfasts and home-baked goodies served on our tours

Regenerative Tourism

Working Bees – are organised on the land and river that support our activities, in places that require maintenance and attention – our staff can also volunteer their time

Volunteer Day is scheduled every year to give something back to the Forgotten World

We’re signed up to the NZTSC which aims to see every New Zealand tourism business committed to sustainability by 2025.

On this journey we strive to deliver high quality experiences for both domestic and international visitors while having a positive impact on local communities, contributing to the restoration and protection of our natural environment, and rebuilding the economic sustainability of the tourism sector.

We believe that together we can create a truly sustainable tourism industry that makes a positive and enduring contribution to Aoteroa New Zealand. We are working towards twelve Commitments across the four elements of tourism sustainability:

ECONOMIC

We are committed to being an economically sustainable, resilient and innovative business

VISITOR

We are committed to offering world-leading experiences that exceed visitor expectations

COMMUNITY

We will enable our communities to benefit from and be supported by tourism

ENVIRONMENT

We pledge to protect and enhance our natural environment

new zealand tourism's official quality assurance

Forgotten World Adventures has achieved the Gold Qualmark award under the Sustainable Tourism Business criteria.

Qualmark is New Zealand tourism’s official quality assurance organisation, providing a trusted guide to quality travel experiences in New Zealand. The Qualmark accreditation is recognised and trusted by travellers worldwide.

We uphold the Tiaki Promise

We are passionate about sustainability and uphold the Tiaki Promise. We have a crucial role as kaitiaki guardians; to protect and respect our special place, the Forgotten World, a role we embrace today and will continue to honour tomorrow.

CARE FOR LAND, SEA & NATURE

We strive to tread lightly and leave no trace. As kaitiaki guardians it is our mission to ensure the Forgotten World is preserved for future generations.

TRAVEL SAFELY

Stay on marked trails to protect fragile ecosystems. If you see any wildlife, observe from a distance and never feed them - preserve their natural habits.

RESPECT CULTURE

Be respectful of local cultures and the cultural significance of the land you are exploring, especially if it is of importance to indigenous communities.

By supporting us, you help support our local community

We support local

We partner with some incredible heritage attractions and operators in the King Country, including the Whangamōmona Hotel, Blue Duck Station, Lauren’s Lavender Farm, Bradley’s Garden, Omaka Lodge and Posh Pioneers. We couldn’t do what we do without their dedication and support.

We also work with many local businesses to support our activities including Gillard Motors and Wakelin Engineering.