Short answer: The Tiaki Promise is a commitment that visitors to New Zealand are invited to make: care for land, sea and nature, travel safely, and respect culture with an open mind. "Tiaki" means to care for people and place. Agents can use it as a short, positive way to brief clients before they travel.
Clients now ask how a trip will treat the places they visit. The Tiaki Promise gives a simple answer that operators across the country already use. This post explains what it is and where it fits in a trade briefing.
What it is
The Tiaki Promise was launched in November 2018 by seven organisations: Air New Zealand, the Department of Conservation, Local Government New Zealand, New Zealand Māori Tourism, Tourism Holdings, Tourism Industry Aotearoa and Tourism New Zealand. Many operators repeat it on their own websites, and Explera DMC New Zealand is a signatory. See our Tiaki Promise page.
The pledge covers three areas, as reproduced by operators:
- Care for land, sea and nature. Tread lightly and leave no trace.
- Travel safely. Take care of everyone around you.
- Respect culture. Come with an open mind and heart.
Why it matters to the trade
- It links to kaitiakitanga. Guardianship of the land is central to Māori values. Our guide to selling Māori cultural experiences respectfully covers the wider context.
- It supports access. Walks, huts and sensitive sites depend on visitors behaving well. See our Great Walks guide.
- It is voluntary. It is a commitment, not a law or a certification. Treat an operator's claim as their own statement and ask what they actually do.
A short client briefing
- Stay on marked tracks and take rubbish out.
- Do not feed wildlife or approach it closely.
- Drive on the left and allow extra time on mountain roads. See our self-drive briefing.
- Ask before photographing people or entering cultural sites.
How Explera DMC New Zealand can help
We build the promise into programme notes and pre-departure briefings for group tours and Māori cultural experiences. Our pre-departure briefing guide lists what else clients need.
FAQ
What does Tiaki mean? To care for people and place.
Who created the Tiaki Promise? Seven organisations launched it in November 2018: Air New Zealand, the Department of Conservation, Local Government New Zealand, New Zealand Māori Tourism, Tourism Holdings, Tourism Industry Aotearoa and Tourism New Zealand.
Is the Tiaki Promise a legal requirement? No. It is a voluntary commitment for visitors and the businesses that host them.
How can agents use it? As a short briefing point in pre-departure notes and on programme documents.
Talk to the trade desk
Explera DMC New Zealand trade desk — b2b@explera.co.nz, WhatsApp +66 93 656 8090, B2B portal b2b.expleradmc.com.
