Conservation

Our efforts today are not for ourselves alone, but our children and their children to come.

As a business owned by Ngāi Tahu Tourism, the preservation of our natural environment is of utmost importance to the Dart River Adventures team.

Ngāi Tahu culture and identity is based on an ancestral connection to the land and we take our role as kaitiaki (guardian) seriously, including careful consideration of the changing environment. The tribal whakataukī (proverb), mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei (for us and our children after us), means we take a long-term view. We are committed to operating sustainably and protecting the region for future generations.

We are a proud supporter of the Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust, formed in 2013.

The Trust has taken up the challenge to protect and rebuild the population of vulnerable native bird species found in the Dart and Routeburn catchment areas. Minimising introduced pests such as stoats, rats and possums is the key to achieving this objective. Our jet boats play an important role in transporting volunteers to regularly check and maintain over 50km of trapping lines.

Dart River Adventures proudly assist the Department of Conservation with their biodiversity programme by providing them with transport up the Dart River on our jetboats. We assist them with accessing these remote areas that would take them hours to get to by other means.