As a guardian of Aotearoa New Zealand we commit to the Tiaki Promise. And ask you to do the same.
Tiaki is a Maori word that loosely means to care for people, place and culture.
By protecting our environment, future generations will enjoy the beauty of Tamaki Makaurau Auckland.
The Tiaki Promise:
- Care for land, sea, and nature; walk lightly and leave no trace.
- Travel safely, show kindness to everyone.
- Respect our culture with an open heart and mind.
Here’s how we action our promise on every tour.
Our Sustainability Steps (Kaitiakitanga) :
- Small-group focus, back-street walking. The company’s ethos ensures locals aren’t impacted by waves of large walking groups crowding already busy city streets. With a capped group size , we wander up back lanes, through parks and city squares so visitors blend in with the locals and experience a real connection to the city.
- Follow us on foot and bus. We promote the use of public transport to visitors which is why Aucky Walky tours often combine walking with a local bus ride. Tour takers receive guidance on how to use Auckland’s trains, ferries and buses.
- Love local. We support small, independent eateries, food artisans and cafes to help boost their success.
- Combo tours with like-minded operators. We collaborate with other low-emission, highly-rated Auckland operators so visitors can sightsee guilt-free. Aucky Walky Tours was recognised by Auckland Transport with an award for reducing tourism-related congestion in the city. And promoting visitor use of public transport.
Hospitality In Action (Manaakitanga) :
- A home for the homeless. Aucky Walky donates annually to the Auckland City Mission shelter HomeGround with its 90 studios and wrap-round health services on Hobson St. We stroll through the outdoor 'living rooms of Auckland's rough sleepers so it's the respectful thing to do.
- Accessiblity for everyone. We provide tours which can be enjoyed by visitors with restricted mobility. The wheelchair and mobility-friendly route avoids stairs, hills, curbs and includes street-level restaurants with easy access to restrooms.
- Food tour spending. Supporting independent food vendors, arts and crafts is central to Aucky Walky’s ethos. The company has pumped thousands of dollars into local restaurants. Aucky Walky’s policy is to promote the best of Auckland with integrity. Our vendor recommendations are genuine and not incentivised. This ‘neutrality’ condition is even written into our guide contracts.
- Sharing Auckland love. Our website includes up-to-date advice on the best things to do in Auckland to help visitors plan their stay and provide benefits to communities outside of Auckland's CBD. Every tour taker receives our Local's List on the best places to eat, shop and go.
Aucky Walky has woven sustainability practices into its core visitor experiences.
With a commitment to reducing tourism’s impact on future generations and promote slower, cleaner travel of the city we call home.
Aucky Walky Tours is also a foundation signee of the Aotearoa New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Committment.
Find out more about the Tiaki Promise here.
Nau mai, haere mai ki Aotearoa!
Welcome to New Zealand!
"The support from Aucky Walky Tours is a great example of a small, local business making a positive difference to the community they operate in. We are thrilled that a tourism operator is plucky enough to highlight a very real social issue for Auckland. We also enjoyed our walk with them very much." Alexis Sawyers, Team Leader – Fundraising, Auckland City Mission
