Rotorua Sustainable Charter

The Rotorua Sustainable Charter Inc. is a member organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable practices within the Rotorua District. 

The Charter was established in 1998 by a group committed to making Rotorua the most sustainable destination in the Southern Hemisphere. Member businesses are committed to continually improving all business dimensions, including their social, cultural and environmental performances. 

Rotorua was the first region in New Zealand to establish such a group and members of the Charter include most of the larger tourism businesses and many small and medium-sized businesses.

While initially made up of tourism businesses, in 2011 the Charter was expanded to introduce those sustainable practices to the wider Rotorua business community.

Rotorua residents and those visiting the district have a role to play in making Rotorua a more sustainable destination. By choosing to support businesses that have committed to sustainable practices, residents and visitors are encouraging other businesses to adopt the same sustainability ethic.

Now in 2021, the Charter has a sustainability advisor who, with the support of a small team, will ensure that these sustainability practices are encouraged, monitored and improved. The goal is to support our members through their sustainability journey and to identify key opportunities for short-, medium- and long-term improvements. Members pay an annual fee to support the Charter and access the sustainability advisor services.

Peer learning opportunities are created for member businesses to share their successes and challenges. Members have also come together in the past to work on ecological restoration projects such as the Kuaka Stream by the Waipa mountain bike carpark.

APR Consultants

APR Consultants Ltd was involved in the inception of the Charter in Rotorua and have worked as a major sponsor ever since.  For more than 20 years APR has managed the Charter through the role of the sustainability advisor. In the past 10 years, APR has also taken over the role of Charter administration.

Members