Environment & Sustainability
Here at Taigh na Mara, treading lightly on our environment and aspiring to live as sustainably as possible, are guiding principles.
Harvesting the olive trees
A bounty of stone fruit from the garden
Community team work to help prevent coastal erosion
Olives harvested from the garden, sent off to a local press
During your visit, you will see various examples of how these principles are supported, while in the background other policies and values are adhered to. Examples include:
Taigh na Mara has joined the Tiaki Promise. Tiaki means to care for people and place. New Zealanders have a special connection to the land, and want to help visitors travel safely and conscientiously. The Tiaki Promise has a set of guiding principles for visitors to follow, showing them how to contribute to preserving and protecting our land.
In 2021, we adopted the Tourism Industry Aotearoa Sustainable Tourism Commitment and will work towards developing and fulfilling a plan for how we can undertake this commitment
Production of minimal waste is key to daily operations. Wherever possible, materials are either composted in outdoor garden bins or a worm bin, or they are reused or recycled. Bins for recycling of paper, glass bottles, cans and plastics are available in the guest rooms to assist you with this, along with a small container for compostable material.
Garden waste is generally composted or mulched, with pruned material often being used as kindling for the wood fire burner.
Single use plastic bags are kept to a minimum, with alternatives used wherever possible
Refillable containers are used in guest bathrooms and filled with New Zealand made eco friendly products
The majority of cleaning cloths and products used are from the Norwex range and are chemical free
The water supply is sourced from rainwater, gathered from the roof and stored in two very large tanks in the garden. All the water then goes through micro filtration, and UV filter, providing safe, chemical free water. Guests are encouraged to fill their water bottles from taps, reducing the use of plastic water bottles.
Waste water is directed to an underground septic tank and then on to a communal treatment system managed by our subdivision. The treated “grey water” is then recycled back to our properties for flushing toilets, saving our precious rain water.
Laundry is done on the property and generally hung outside to dry. A small tank collects rinse water from the washing machine and this is then used to water the vege garden.
Produce from the garden and fruit trees is utilised as much as possible in food preparation (often added to by contributions from neighbours and friends), and most items are made from scratch (aka “first principles” or “home made”)
Local trades people and shops are used wherever possible, with the aim of “supporting local”
Energy efficient light bulbs are used with LED lighting replacing older technology as required.
Guests are encouraged to turn off appliances and lighting when not in use, saving energy
Kuaotunu and the Coromandel in general operate a number of volunteer projects working to protect our environment. As time permits, Carol helps out when possible, whether it be planting kauri trees, or dune planting, and is currently (2023) on the committee for the Dune Care Group. For more on the work being done in the area, check out our local website, https://www.kuaotunu.nz/our-environment/