Students in AUIP’s New Zealand study abroad programs visit the scenic coastal village of Kaikoura, on the east coast of the South Island. Visitors can inhale the fresh ocean breeze, spot an impressive array of wildlife, peruse quaint shops and try mouthwatering local fare. But Kaikoura hasn’t always been the beachfront utopia it appears to be. Like many towns throughout the world, Kaikoura has had to face some difficult circumstances, and residents have had to change their ways to get where they are today.

Kaikoura was the first community in the world to achieve a Green Globe Certification in 2004. The international program helps travel and tourism industries reduce their global impact.

“It was a framework that worked for the community of Kaikoura,” said district planner Rachel Vaughan during a lecture to AUIP students.

Even though they are a tourist destination – attracting about 2 million visitors per year – city officials and residents take care to reduce the human impact on the environment, abiding by high standards on energy use, waste and greenhouse gas production, air quality, water consumption and more.

“You have to get buy in from the community. It’s not something you can do without support,” Vaughan says.

In the 1960s, Kaikoura had quite a different image. The town’s main industry – whaling – was shutdown. This created an economic downturn. There were no jobs, and Kaikoura risked becoming a ghost town. Luckily in the 1980s, a more sustainable business revitalized Kaikoura – whale watching.

Whale Watch Kaikoura attracted new visitors and tourism business ventures. The town later faced challenges when the landfill and the sewage system started to approach capacity. Drinking water also became limited. Residents made the decision that instead of replacing the infrastructure right away and increasing the cost of living, they would become more sustainable. It required them to become more mindful of their waste, put time and energy into environmentally friendly initiatives and simplify their way of life.

The residents and business of Kaikoura have come a long way in educating themselves and visitors about caring for the environment, and today they are leading the way as one of the top destinations for sustainability.