Reforming tourism to be part of a regenerative economy requires a strategic and collaborative approach, which must recognise the importance of leadership by tangata whenua. Managing the pressures of tourism on conservation land and prioritising forms of transport for tourism with a smaller environmental footprint, while supporting eco-tourism, will help tourism have a net restorative outcome on the natural world. Enabling community decision-making and ownership of tourism will help tourists experience the special character of Aotearoa New Zealand while respecting our cultural heritage. Focusing on domestic tourism, diversity and accessibility will bring resilience to the sector.
Vision
Tourism is a benefit to tangata whenua and local communities, who are respected, natural ecosystems, which are restored, and to future generations. For tourists, it is a chance to experience the unique character of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Values and Principles
- Tourism policies must align with the following values and principles:
- Honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi: Tourism should help enhance the mana of Te Tiriti o Waitangi internationally. Māori tourism should be led by tangata whenua and systemic barriers to the receipt of benefits by tangata whenua from tourism should be removed.
- Ecological Wisdom: Tourism should help to protect and restore biodiversity and ecosystems, and contribute to global efforts to keep human activity within ecological limits.
- Social Responsibility: Tourism should actively enrich our communities.
- Appropriate Decision-Making: Tourism activities that impact local communities and cultures should be subject to community decision-making that focuses on long-term environmental, social, cultural and economic wellbeing.
- Non-Violence: Tourism should acknowledge but not perpetuate or celebrate harmful activities, including harms of colonisation.
Strategic Priorities
The Green Party’s strategic goals include:
“...regenerative practices in all areas of economic activity, including land use and food production, will predominate.”
Actions in this policy that will help achieve this include:
- In partnership with tangata whenua, develop and implement a regenerative tourism strategy underpinned by values from Te Ao Māori and mātauranga Māori. (1.1)
- Ensure all subsidies for tourism incentivise enduring restorative outcomes, and, where subsidies are consequently removed, provide funding to support workers in a just transition. (2.3)
- Implement strategies to reduce the impact of high tourist numbers in sensitive ecosystems, guided by consideration of the cumulative effect of visitor activities on the character of public conservation land. (2.5)
- Prioritise the wellbeing of communities and cultures above growth in tourism. (3.1)
- Promote and support domestic tourism that is ecologically sustainable, innovative, diverse and accessible. (4.1)
Connected Policies
Tourism operators should operate within the values and principles outlined in our Sustainable Business Policy. Other policies that support managing the negative impacts of tourism include Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Arts, Culture and Heritage; Climate Change; Conservation; Transport; and Workforce Policies.
