Green Globe certification is really about checking that we are doing, what we say we are doing and  that we are actually becoming more sustainable!  Through certification Kaikoura has to show that our community are involved in becoming more sustainable.

Achieving certification in 2007 is the fourth year Kaikoura has achieved international recognition for our commitment to sustainable practises.  This certification remains valid until November 2008.

Objective Annual Audits

Through Green Globe annual records and measures are checked, not by staff from Council or Green Globe, but by independent auditors. Green Globe is not simply marketing for Kaikoura, it proves we can honestly say we are reducing our environmental impact!

The organisations that check our benchmarking data include Earthcheck and our certification systems are checked by Precott Horm, and we can promise you that the audits are stringent!

A long term goal of sustainability

Of course being Green Globe certified does NOT mean Kaikoura is a completely sustainable destination.  Each year that we achieve Certification proves the Kaikoura community is working to become sustainable.

So what are we doing? Here are a few examples of our gradual progress towards sustainability:

• Check out Kaikoura 100% committed flier - distributed far and wide to encourage folks to understand and participate in Kaikoura's environmental commitment.
• A collaboration between Council, Innovative Waste Kaikoura and the Zero Waste Trust developed a fridge magnet - to highlight how and what items can be recycled in Kaikoura.
• We have placed a number of recycling stations (about 12) throughout the town centre - to encourage visitors to reduce their contributions to landfill by recycling.
• We are looking into introducing a kerbside collection of organics - which should divert about 78% of waste away from landfill - enabling us to get closer to our goal of zero waste.
• Ever wondered how much electricity your appliances use? Well council has a device that can tell you, called the Centameter, and we are hiring these to householders for only $5 for 7 days so you can see how much difference turning lights off really makes to your electricity bill.
• We are aiming to assist more businesses in town to become involved in sustainable practises, such as through the Green Globe program and/or developing more sustainable practises.
• We will continue to run conservation volunteer holidays, practical ways people can make a difference to the environment (see Projects for more info).

If you want to get involved with any of these or want to know more about Green Globe contact us!