New Zealand Creates Pledge that Asks Tourists to Protect the Environment

New Zealand’s new pledge encourages tourists to protect the country’s environment. In New Zealand, visitors are informed about a pledge called the “Tiaki Promise” when they set foot in the country. This pledge urges tourists to look after the country’s environment and resources during their visit. Some of the promises included in the pledge are caring for the land, sea, and nature, and leaving no waste anywhere. The word tiaki [tih-YAH-kee] means “to guard.” It is part of Māori [MAH-aw-ree], a language spoken by New Zealand’s indigenous people. Tourism New Zealand, an organization that promotes the country’s tourism, launched the “Tiaki Promise” by producing a two-minute video. Tourists will be able to watch the video when flying via Air New Zealand. Details of the pledge are also indicated in the organization’s website. According to Tourism New Zealand’s CEO, Stephen England-Hall, the “Tiaki Promise” does not intend to impose actions on tourists. Instead, it guides tourists in developing a certain mind-set when in New Zealand. England-Hall also emphasized that the initiative was created because the country takes environmental matters seriously. New Zealand has consistently shown its dedication to the environment by doing well in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) over the years. EPI measures and ranks the environmental status of different countries in the world. This year, New Zealand ranked 17th out of 180 countries. A 2017 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also looked at New Zealand’s environmental performance. OECD recognized New Zealand’s reputation as a green nation and wishes that the country can maintain this status.