Our Story

More and more travellers to New Zealand are seeking authentic cultural experiences that encompass both the scenic beauty and our people's history and endeavours.

Places, people, timeframes

Our guides take pleasure in sharing their unique knowledge of the environment and eco-system with you. Their contribution is very personal and tailored to each group. You can ask for more detail about the flora and fauna or simply sit back and enjoy the scenery.

Maori and European history is another strand of storytelling that we take pleasure in sharing with you. Pre-history, early settlement, methods of living and cooking, names of places and species …ask us about enriching your understanding of the Maori & European people and their unique relationship with the environment.

Abel Tasman Kayaks was established in 1986, realising a vision to bring visitors into the glorious Abel Tasman National Park. Sea kayaking is such a unique, low impact way to explore the beautiful golden beaches, peaceful coves and lagoons, offshore islands, wildlife and the native forest fringing our granite coastline!

This innovation became an instant hit with visitors to the area, and saw the growth and development of Abel Tasman Kayaks into one of the leading kayak operations in the country.

Gaining a Department of Conservation (DOC) concession as well as a DOC Marine Mammal Watching Permit meant we could take our guests right into the park to visit the NZ Fur Seal Colony on Tonga Island in the Marine Reserve.

In 2007 Wakatu Incorporation and Ngai Tahu went into partnership and it is now co-owned by these two local iwis.

Toitū te Marae a Tāne
Totū te marae a Tongaroa
Totū te Iwi
   
Through the sustainability
of the forest and ocean,
humanity will endure.
 

We want to provide every visitor with an enjoyable experience in the National Park while minimizing any impacts on its natural beauty.

We understand tourism is an important part of the national economy and provides a major source of income for many living in the top of the South Island.  It is also understood that the nature of tourism operations in the Abel Tasman constitute a threat to the environment and possibly, to the economy of the region.  We will continue to work towards avoiding and or mitigating any negative effects daily operations may have on the environment by our commitment to:

• Minimizing direct impacts on the environment by monitoring our operations and continuing to be proactively involved in projects to protect and restore the biodiversity of the area.
• Working with employees, customers, shareholders, suppliers, the local community and any other interested parties to identify their needs and support them in our commitment to the environment.
• Creating an understanding and responsibility to, minimize our daily impacts on the local environment.
• Identifying both short and long term effects of operations, and in response, reduce any negative effects to a minimum.

In order to achieve the above objectives, we:

• Work to gain employees commitment to the positive aspects of sustainable tourism and their awareness of the importance and benefits of minimizing negative effects on the environment.
• Promote our commitment through the use of local and sustainable product supply.
• Comply with the goals and objectives set by the Nelson Sustainable Tourism Charter & Qualmark
• Continue to review current business practices, identify areas of improvement and create plans to meet our commitments towards a more sustainable future for tourism in the Abel Tasman.

Monitoring

Membership of Nelson Tasman Sustainable Charter.

Qualmark Enviro Silver mark. This means we have met minimum requirements in this area, and gone a little extra and are actively participating in energy efficiency; conservation initiatives; waste management & community activities.

Monthly monitoring: fuel/electricity/land fill and recycling – we are always looking at ways of reducing our uses of resources.

Community Activities

Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust  - Proud financial supporters - 10c per person each time you cross the park's foreshore. Aim of the trust: The forests and beaches of Abel Tasman are once again filled with the birdsong that awakens and delights visitors.

Prizes and Donations - In kind for local school and community groups.

Waste Management

• Using refillable dispensers where appropriate eg soaps, sunscreen
• Introduced electronic timesheets to cut down on paper use
• Use local caters where possible – eg all lunches come from Motueka, coffee from Riwaka
• Composting all left over food scraps
• Recycling – plastics, tins, paper

Water conservation

Filling one bath load of water rather than running the hose to rinse kayaking gear.

Energy Efficiency & Monitoring

• Encourage lights and electronic appliances to be switched off when not in use.
• Regular maintenance of all vehicles/tractors

We consider your safety to be paramount! We have a very comprehensive Safety Management Programme in place which is externally audited to ensure our systems and operating procedures are of the highest standard in the industry. Abel Tasman Kayaks is also a founding member of the Sea Kayak Operators Association of New Zealand (SKOANZ) which has been the leading force in safety on the water for sea kayak operators throughout New Zealand. All of our guides are certified through SKOANZ or have approved equivalent qualifications. The majority of our experienced guides have extra qualifications through outdoor adventure studies and local training. Other training includes comprehensive First Aid, coastguard qualifications, weather forecasting and local history of the Park. Abel Tasman Kayaks has an annual replacement programme for the kayaks and gear to ensure that you are using equipment that is the best available on the market. We have a documented maintenance programme so that all our gear is maintained regularly.