Our Policies

It is our policy to provide GENUINE and AUTHENTIC experiences.

Mission Statement for Auckland Eco-tour and farm Visit Coast to Coast Tours

TRANSPORT

- We ONLY operate in the region where we live, so profits are directed back into our local community. Stuart is the Treasurer of Kumeu Coast & Country (which incorporates the local Visitor Information Centre). He gives his time voluntarily.

- NZ Native trees; (planted on our own farm) to ‘offset’ carbon emissions from the tour. Current rate is 6 trees planted for every 10 trips. >>AIM: To better this planting rate by effective advertising (which is now in our new brochure).

-Vehicles serviced regularly (and locally). Vehicles driven by RPM. >>AIM: continue to monitor fuel consumption, possible upgrade to hybrid vehicle (or similar) in future.

- Minimum 2 pax required to operate tour reduces uneconomical transport. Also increases chance of a Native tree being planted. >>AIM: to increase number of pax per trip by securing more contracts.

MINIMISING WASTE

-Our tour business is combined with our household, and we are already Recycling & Reusing. >>AIM: to find other ways to reduce our waste even more!

-We buy locally whenever possible. All food scraps are returned to the ground for composting (or eaten by our animals!). We have recently re-planted our home vegetable garden and fruit tree orchard. All discarded household effects are donated to charity. >>AIM: to continue to do this.

EFFICIENT USE OF WATER & ENERGY

- Our farm has (and has always had) its own source of water (rainwater), thereby making us extremely water conscious! We have recently installed an environmentally-friendly wood burner fireplace which also heats our hot water. All electrical appliances are switched off/stand-by, when not in use. >>AIM: monitor and find ways to reduce more.

USE OF BIODEGRADABLE CHEMICALS

- Coast to Coast Tours uses environmentally friendly cleaning products (because of Donna’s FMS and chemical ’sensitivity’ and also the septic-tank toilet system in use at our farm). >>AIM: to continue to use these products.

PROCEDURES TO MINIMISE DISTURBANCE TO NEIGHBOURS

- As part of our tour company, we had to obtain a Resource Consent from our Local Government. Part of this were conditions being placed upon our tour operation because our home is part of our tour’s itinerary. For this we are limited to; a certain number of coach movements, and certain hours of operation. We were in negotiation with this Council and none of the conditions are hard to work with, but it does give the Council peace of mind that these restrictions will minimise disturbance. We also have to keep a register of our tour operation. >>AIM: log the register and abide by the operating conditions.