Sustainability at Hapuku Lodge is a heartfelt commitment – to the land, sea, sky, and community that surrounds us.
Every guest who stays with us enables us to plant more trees, protect whales, preserve dark skies, recycle responsibly, and grow food in harmony with nature.
Find out below how we create a luxury experience that honours and sustains this extraordinary place.
What does wellness look like at Hapuku Lodge + Tree Houses?
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6,000 native trees planted
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$20,000 donated to protect whales
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4,865.7 kWh clean energy generated
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1,670 kg recycled
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100% of food waste composted
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5 EV chargers installed
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163% of carbon footprint offset
More on whales
- Supported conservation efforts for 20 whales.
- One whale can sequester up to 2 tonnes of CO₂ per year
- For more information please visit Moana Mark.
Operating net-positive in carbon
- Estimated carbon footprint: 73.66 tonnes CO₂e/year
- Estimated offset and avoided emissions: 190+ tonnes CO₂e/year
Our Sustainability Ethos
At Hapuku Lodge, sustainability is not a feature – it is the foundation. We exist in a uniquely beautiful and delicate environment, between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean. This place deserves to be honoured, protected, and restored.
For us, sustainability means more than reducing harm – it means actively regenerating the ecosystems that support us. Every choice we make – in architecture, landscaping, cuisine, and hospitality – is guided by this principle.
Hapuku Lodge is proud to operate as net positive for carbon, meaning we offset more carbon than we produce.
Restoring biodiversity & habitat
Our dream is to return the landscape to how it once was — alive with sound, movement, and connection, by:
- Planting native trees (including mānuka, kānuka, tōtara, and kahikatea)
- Landscaping that invites native birds back to the area. With each year, we’re finding the birdsong grows louder
- Working with local conservation groups to manage invasive species and restore the ecology
Our Sustainability Ethos
Respecting the ocean
Just beyond our doorstep lies the marine world of Kaikōura. Our sustainability practices are designed to keep that ocean clean and protected.
- We strictly limit single-use plastics and aim for zero waste
- Your complimentary bathroom products are eco-certified and biodegradable
- Your stay contributes to marine conservation initiatives
Design that honours the environment
Our buildings are crafted not only to sit lightly on the land, but to honour it.
- Passive solar design naturally heats and cools our buildings
- Locally sourced, natural, recycled materials reduce emissions and support regional craftspeople
Our Sustainability Ethos
Connecting through food
Our menu is sourced sustainably, reflecting the seasons and the region. Dining at Hapuku enables guests to enrich their connection with the land and its rhythms.
- Our organic garden and nearby regenerative farms supply the kitchen
- We only use ethical meat, seafood, and dairy
- We minimise food waste
Connecting through people
We believe in sustainability as a community effort. We work closely with:
- Local iwi to honour the Māori values of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and whakapapa (connection to place)
- Local schools and conservation groups on planting days, educational tours, and restoration initiatives
- Our guests, who are invited to learn, contribute, and leave with a deeper understanding of this place
Our Sustainability Ethos
Looking forward
Regeneration is a journey. We’re not perfect – but we’re committed.
Every year, we revisit our goals, measure our progress, and ask ourselves how we can do better.
Because in the end, our answer to why we’re here is simple:
To live gently.
To leave things better than we found them.
To make space for nature to thrive – and to welcome others into that vision.
