Sustainability in the sunshine at Ruakākā Beach Holiday Park

A Northland holiday park is leading the way in offering fun holidays sustainably.

Ruakākā Beach Holiday Park offers cabins and campsite accommodation for tents, caravans and campervans. Its easy access to safe swimming beaches, beautiful scenery, and prime location draw over 42,000 visitors every year.

Manager Anne-Marie Abel says leaving a sustainable footprint for future generations is one of the company’s visions.

Growing up on the land, conservation and sustainability have always been important to Anne-Marie. Soon after she became the manager 16 years ago, the holiday park kicked off a planting programme to create shelter and shade for both people and nature.

A sustainability programme followed, which saw the holiday park introducing changes to save power and water, and become more environmentally friendly, across all facets of its business.
LED bulbs were installed in all buildings and outside doorways, and sensor lights, solar powered outdoor lighting, and new high-efficiency whiteware save electricity.

Efficient use of water is encouraged with a reusable token-based timer system on showers and push button taps that turn water off automatically in hand basins.

About 12 years ago, the holiday park introduced on-site recycling collection stations to reduce waste, and started using recycled toilet paper. It also has 30 pillows made from plastic bottles for its cabins, as well as eight recycled mattresses that will in turn be recycled into carpet when they need to be replaced.

Environmentally friendlier cleaning is achieved by using bio-products, reusing cleaning cloths, and refurbishing bathroom and toilet partitions with composite materials that use fewer cleaning products.

The holiday park team also undertake conservation work. They have installed signage to protect bird nesting areas, replaced traditional weedkiller and line-marking sprays with eco-friendly alternatives, and have an active predator control programme to increase native bird life. Across the holiday park, pine trees are being replaced with natives.

“It’s made a big difference,” Anne-Marie says. “It feels good to know we’re looking after the land, the whenua, for future generations.”

She says the sustainability initiatives have brought benefits to the business, as well as being good for the environment.

“You use more electricity and water than you realise. Bringing in solar and LED lighting has made a huge difference in that area. Most customers are supportive. Some aren’t, about the shower timers, but it does save water.”

Other local businesses have benefited, too.

“We support local where possible – local businesses, local contractors, and we buy from businesses that support local communities,” Anne-Marie says.

The company’s environmental practices have attracted Silver certification under Qualmark’s Sustainable Tourism Business criteria, and it was shortlisted for the Northland Regional Council Excellence in Sustainability and Climate Action Award at the 2024 Northland Business Excellence Awards.