Being DOC Approved means we contribute directly to conservation through the fees we pay, helping to protect the marine environment we get to enjoy. It also shows that we meet DOC’s environmental expectations and have passed independent safety checks, so you can feel confident exploring with us.
Only operators with a current agreement with the Department of Conservation can carry this approval, and we’re proud to be one of them.
Our Commitment
A privilege and not a right
At Encounter Kaikoura we strive to provide an incredible experience to our customers, but also to embrace our responsibility for the natural world we all depend upon.
We are extremely lucky here in Kaikōura to have amazing wildlife and stunning coastline right on our doorstep, and we understand that we must exist in harmony with our environment and do all we can to preserve it for the future and inspire others to do the same.
Conservation
How we give back
A portion of every fare goes towards conservation and community projects.
We actively support conservation initiatives, research programmes, our local community, education groups and schools.
We support The Whale & Dolphin Trust and share sightings and ID images with The Orca Research Trust and The Kaikoura Ocean Research Institute which has enabled important research on populations of both orca (nationally critical) and Hector’s dolphins (nationally vulnerable) respectively.
Our staff volunteer with a number of local wildlife conservation groups and this work along with ID photographs from our trips are valuable puzzle pieces to better understanding the wildlife we live alongside and how best to protect it.
Responsible Encounters
Protecting our wildlife
It is a huge priviledge to share our ocean “office” with such special wildlife. We work closely with The Department of Conservation under a permit system to make sure your experience is safe, respectful, and sustainable for both you and the dolphins.
Here in Kaikōura, dusky dolphins feed mainly at night, so we’re not interrupting their mealtimes. The best part about our tours is that the dolphins are completely wild, and we never feed or entice them — every interaction happens entirely on their terms. Our limited swimming spaces and small number of boats are all part of keeping our impact as light as possible.
Department of Conservation Approved
Proud to be awarded Qualmark Gold
It means a lot to us to be recognised by New Zealand tourism’s official mark of quality.
A Gold Award recognises the very best sustainable tourism businesses in Aotearoa — the ones who deliver exceptional experiences while genuinely caring for people and place. For us, that includes the everyday things like reducing waste, cutting down on energy use, and continually looking for ways to tread a little lighter.
We are delighted to be counted among those leading the way in making New Zealand a world-class, sustainable visitor destination.
Department of Conservation SMART operator
We’re proud to be part of DOC’s SMART Operator Programme, a voluntary partnership that helps keep marine mammal encounters safe and respectful for everyone — wildlife included.
Being involved means we commit to a high level of staff training, responsible advertising, and actively promoting safe viewing practices to our guests and the wider community. Our crew regularly take part in SMART courses, which teach best-practice ways to observe marine life without disturbance.
Tiaki means to care for people and place
The Tiaki promise is a commitment to care for New Zealand for now and for future generations.
Tiaki – Care for New Zealand was created through a collective desire to share a connection to the natural world, inspiring and helping visitors to travel safely and conscientiously.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, people have a strong connection to the place around them. Tangata whenua (people of this land) see nature as something intrinsically intertwined with their own lives. For Māori, every mountain, every river, every tree has a story. These stories form part of their own identities and help to shape their place in the world.
Tiaki invites us all to look at the world through this indigenous lens. To form a deeper connection with place, and to reflect this in our attitudes and behaviours.
