Our Commitment to Aotearoa

We travel with
care, respect,
and purpose.

Kiwi Grand Tours proudly supports the Tiaki Promise — New Zealand's national pledge to care for its land, culture, and people. Every itinerary we design, every guest we guide, carries this responsibility with them.

"Care for land, sea and nature, treading lightly and leaving no trace.
Travel safely, showing care and consideration for all.
Respect culture, travelling with an open heart and mind."

Partner With Us How We Live This Promise
Aussie Grand Tours and Kiwi Grand Tours support the Tiaki Promise — Care for New Zealand
7 Founding organisations
including Tourism NZ & Air NZ
2018 Launched — now recognised
worldwide in 5 languages
100% Of KGT guests receive a
Tiaki pre-departure briefing
5 Principles embedded
into every KGT itinerary
The Origin Story

A promise born from
love of this land

Tiaki is a Te Reo Māori word meaning "to care for people and place." In November 2018, seven of New Zealand's most influential tourism and conservation organisations came together to create a shared commitment — asking every visitor to New Zealand to travel as a guardian, not merely as a tourist.

The Tiaki Promise asks visitors to care for New Zealand's environment, respect its living Māori culture, travel safely on its roads and trails, and preserve what makes Aotearoa extraordinary for the generations who come after us.

For us at Kiwi Grand Tours, this is not a marketing badge. It is the foundation of how we plan, guide, and operate every journey.

Tourism New Zealand Air New Zealand Dept. of Conservation Tourism Industry Aotearoa NZ Māori Tourism Local Govt NZ Tourism Holdings Ltd
tiaki Care for New Zealand

"Tiaki" — a Māori word meaning
to care for people and place.

A promise to explore New Zealand
as a guardian, not just a visitor.

The Tiaki Promise

Five principles.
One commitment to Aotearoa.

01

Care for Land, Sea & Nature

Leave beaches, forests, lakes, and marine environments exactly as you found them. Walk only on marked tracks, carry out all waste, and never disturb wildlife.

02

Travel Safely

Be prepared for New Zealand's changeable weather and remote landscapes. Follow road rules, heed warnings on trails, and always let someone know your plans in the outdoors.

03

Respect Culture

Approach Māori history and living culture with curiosity and reverence. Ask permission before photographing cultural sites, learn basic Te Reo Māori greetings, and honour tikanga (customs).

04

Be Considerate

Respect local communities and their quality of life. Observe rules around freedom camping, fishing, and wildlife encounters. Share spaces generously with other visitors and residents.

05

Protect NZ's Future

Adopt environmentally responsible habits throughout your journey — minimise single-use plastics, support local sustainable businesses, and leave New Zealand better than you found it.

How We Live It

The Tiaki Promise is not
a brochure. It is our practice.

01

Pre-Departure Tiaki Briefing

Every agent receives a Tiaki-informed travel document before their clients depart. This covers conservation rules, biosecurity requirements at NZ Customs, and Māori cultural protocols at key sites.

02

On-Tour Guest Guidance

Our guides and drivers actively explain NZ's conservation expectations at every major site — from DOC reserves and sacred Māori pā to mountain passes and coastal tracks. No guest ever faces a fine through lack of briefing.

03

Itinerary Design Around Conservation

We select suppliers and activity providers who hold genuine environmental credentials — DOC-licensed operators and certified local partners who contribute to native species restoration.

04

Māori Cultural Respect

We partner with authentic Māori tourism operators — Te Puia, Tamaki Māori Village, local iwi guides — and brief all guests on tikanga (customs), protocols at marae, and the significance of tapu (sacred) sites before arrival.

05

Biosecurity Education

New Zealand's biosecurity rules are among the world's strictest. We brief every client — especially those from India — on what must be declared at the border (food, soil, plant material, wooden items) to avoid confiscation and fines.

06

Safe Road Travel Protocols

NZ drives on the left. Roads are narrow, weather changes fast, and distances between towns are greater than they appear. We provide all FIT clients with a safe driving brief and select accommodation that avoids long after-dark transfers.

For Travel Agents

Why Tiaki-aligned DMCs protect your business

An incident at a DOC reserve, a biosecurity violation, a guest photographing inside a marae without permission — these are not just travel inconveniences. They create legal exposure, damage your agency's reputation with the client, and risk your relationship with NZ suppliers. Kiwi Grand Tours' Tiaki-based briefing process eliminates these risks before they can occur.

  • Zero biosecurity incidents across all KGT-managed groups
  • Full written Tiaki briefing included in every client documentation pack
  • DOC rules, cultural protocols, and road safety covered before arrival
  • Māori cultural guides briefed to handle sensitive site visits with respect
  • Tourism NZ Advance Specialist — aligned with the same organisations that created Tiaki
The Tiaki Promise
Care for land, sea and nature Treading lightly and leaving no trace
Travel safely Showing care and consideration for all
Respect culture Travelling with an open heart and mind
Official Tiaki Promise Website
Established By

Seven organisations. One shared commitment to Aotearoa.

Tourism New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Dept. of Conservation
Tourism Industry Aotearoa
New Zealand Māori Tourism
Local Government NZ
Tourism Holdings Ltd
Work With a Responsible DMC

Travel that cares for
New Zealand's future.

When you partner with Kiwi Grand Tours, you offer your clients an experience that is not just extraordinary — it is responsible, respectful, and backed by the same organisations that protect New Zealand's greatest assets.

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