magentajune

Hi Magentajune,

I came across your post on the Ode site this morning as I was waiting for the rain to subside so I could do some gardening. It seems we are on the same page in terms of tourism/art/music/poetry etc.

I realise you are in the United States, but I thought I'd write any way on the off chance that you may visit New Zealand sometime.

Please have a look at our Web site: www.rongobackpackers.com

If you have any questions, require more information, or even better, would like to come and give us a hand! Please e-mail or call me any time,

Regards from Sunny Karamea,

Paul.

rongo@actrix.co.nz

More information and thoughts:

I sometimes feel somewhat hypocritical as I strive to always improve the energy efficiency of my business and private life, I work constantly to find new ways to reduce the impact I have on the environment and work toward sustainability always, yet I am in the service of the international tourism industry and I encourage international visitors to come to New Zealand, which contradicts my efforts in many ways.

To address these concerns, I have several initiatives that seek to change the way people travel while still offering a fabulous holiday experience. I believe international travel is one of the best ways to improve yourself...experiencing different cultures, food, fashion, architecture, art, language etc is perhaps the best way to gain an understanding of the world and its people and to broaden your perspective on life. However, the carbon emissions associated with international travel is a serious problem and the way people travel must change as a result. It is no longer viable for someone to fly from Europe to New Zealand for a two-week holiday.

I own and operate a backpackers hostel, a gallery, an organic food/recycled clothing shop and a motel complex. We also have a farm that we are in the process of developing into a permaculture block that will provide food, firewood and other essential products for the people involved in the project and for our guestomers. Our entire venture is run by Wwoofers and we have an excellent mutually beneficial relationship with our wwoofing team, we appreciate that they are on holiday and encourage them to experience and enjoy our wonderful region while they are with us and, in return, they help us out with the operation of our business, the services we provide and help maintain our facilities.

We ask wwoofers to stay a minimum of two weeks, but most stay much longer and it is a very popular place for wwoofers...one guy has been here for three years!

In terms of sustainability, we produce much of our own food, we have solar hot water, we recycle much of our waste (which is sometimes difficult in a remote region that lacks the infrastructure necessary to recycle), we encourage people to make less waste (encouraging our guestomers to buy beer in reusable plastic containers from the pub rather that bottled beer is one example), we have large composting facilities, worm farms, we use EM for cleaning, gardening and in our septic system...we offer every 4th night free at both the backpackers and the motels, which encourages people to stay longer in one location, which saves on fuel as well as reducing our laundry expense of water and washing powder, the labour necessary for cleaning, the wear and tear on the linen etc. The policy also enables travellers to slow down and experience everything a region has to offer rather than just ticking it off a list of places to visit and the quality of the travel experience is enhanced for both the traveller and the accommodation provider as you get past all the hello, where are you from, what do you do? type questions and into conversations of greater depth and substance.

In addition, I have registered three Web sites: www.abeltasmantrack.com, www.heaphytrack.com and www.wangapekatrack.com to promote a tramping loop around the top of the South Island. This idea is a hedge against rising fuel prices and a low carbon emission travel option for people who have travelled to New Zealand from a long way away to offset their carbon expenditure to get here. So rather than buying an old van in Christchurch and trying to drive around the South Island in four weeks, the three-track loop idea offers a great holiday experience for a low carbon price...less fuel, less expense without reducing the adventure or the travel experience in any way. The idea offers travellers a great holiday experience without spending much money, using much fuel or emitting much carbon and this defrays the carbon cost of getting to New Zealand.

I also purchased an 80-acre bush block that borders on the Kahurangi National Park. The block was logged about 80 years ago and has now regenerated to dense, lush and verdant forest. The bush block is a carbon sink that we use to offset the carbon emissions produced by the operation of our business, including those of the people who travel from afar to stay with us.

I really like your ideas and hope that I can be involved and contribute to this excellent initiative.

Hm: 006437826767

www.heaphytrack.com

Rongo Backpackers & Gallery www.rongobackpackers.com 03-7826-667 130 Waverley St P.O. Box 54 Karamea NEW ZEALAND

Karamea Motels www.karameamotels.com 03-7826-838 17 Wharf Rd P.O. Box 54 Karamea NEW ZEALAND

Global Gypsy Gallery www.globalgypsy.com 03-7826-006 Bridge Street P.O. Box 54 Karamea NEW ZEALAND