How Your West Coast Stay Helps Protect Penguins And Wild Places

A stay on New Zealand’s West Coast offers more than unforgettable scenery. Through Scenic Hotel Group’s partnership with the Nature Economy Partnership, your stay helps support conservation and community projects that protect the landscapes, wildlife, and communities that make this region so special.

Travel That Gives Something Back

The West Coast is known for its dramatic coastline, ancient rainforest, and remarkable wildlife. These landscapes are more than just beautiful places to visit. They help shape the region’s identity, support local communities, and underpin many of the experiences people travel here to enjoy.

The Nature Economy Partnership was created to help protect that future. It provides a practical way for businesses to invest in projects that deliver lasting benefits for both nature and local communities.

As Jonny Horrox, Principal Scientist at the West Coast Regional Council, explains:

“On the West Coast, nature underpins our economy, our communities and our way of life. This creates a practical pathway for businesses to invest in that, delivering long-term benefits for nature, communities and the region’s resilience.”

For visitors, that means your stay can help support the places you’re experiencing right now.

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Turning Good Intent Into Real Impact

Many travellers want their holiday choices to have a positive impact on the destinations they visit. The Nature Economy Partnership helps make that possible by connecting businesses with projects that protect and restore the natural environment.

Among the first organisations to support the partnership is Scenic Hotel Group. Founded on the West Coast in Franz Josef in 1981, Scenic Hotel Group has long believed that tourism, communities, and the natural environment can thrive together.

Through the partnership, Scenic Hotel Group supports initiatives including the West Coast Penguin Trust and the Ōkārito Plant Project, helping protect biodiversity, restore habitats, and strengthen environmental resilience across the region.

As Karl Luxon, Chief Executive of Scenic Hotel Group, explains:

“Regenerative Tourism is central to Scenic Hotel Group’s long-term vision that businesses and communities must succeed and can do so together.

We are delighted to partner with the Nature Economy Partnership to support projects that deliver tangible environmental and community outcomes.

Our sponsorship of the Ōkārito Plant Project and the West Coast Penguin Trust reflects our commitment to helping protect the unique ecosystems and biodiversity that make the West Coast such a remarkable destination.”

The Scenic Hotel Group team regularly volunteer to plant trees for the Okarito Plant Project

Helping Protect West Coast Penguins

One of the projects supported through the partnership is the West Coast Penguin Trust, which works to protect two of New Zealand’s most distinctive penguin species.

Kororā | Little Penguin

The kororā is the world’s smallest penguin and one of New Zealand’s most loved native seabirds. These resilient birds return to shore each evening after feeding at sea and depend on healthy coastal habitats to thrive.

Tawaki | Fiordland Crested Penguin

Found only in parts of the lower West Coast and Fiordland, the tawaki is one of New Zealand’s rarest penguins. Its survival relies on remote rainforest habitats and protected breeding areas along some of the country’s wildest coastline.

By supporting projects that protect these species and their habitats, your stay contributes to the long-term care of an important part of New Zealand’s natural heritage.

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Kororā (Little Penguins) can be viewed at the West Coast Wildlife Centre – image Credit West Coast Tourism Board

What Your Stay Helps Support

Through Scenic Hotel Group’s partnership with the Nature Economy Partnership, your stay helps contribute to:

Conservation of kororā (little penguins) and tawaki (Fiordland crested penguins)
Restoration of native habitats and biodiversity
Community-led environmental initiatives
Protection of the landscapes and wildlife visitors come to experience
Long-term resilience for West Coast ecosystems and communities
A more regenerative approach to tourism that benefits both people and place

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Tawaki (Fiordland Crested Penguins) – image Credit West Coast Tourism Board

Thank You For Helping Make A Difference

A stay on the West Coast is more than an opportunity to experience one of New Zealand’s most spectacular regions.

It’s also a chance to support the people, projects, and wildlife that help make it so special.

By choosing Scenic Hotel Group, you’re helping contribute to conservation initiatives that protect native species, restore habitats, and ensure the West Coast remains a place of wonder for generations to come.

A simple choice. A lasting impact.

FAQ About the Nature Economy Partnership

What Is The Nature Economy Partnership?

The Nature Economy Partnership is a West Coast initiative that connects businesses with conservation and community projects, creating long-term benefits for nature, local communities, and the region’s resilience.

How Does My Stay Help?

When you stay with Scenic Hotel Group on the West Coast, your visit supports Scenic’s partnership with the Nature Economy Partnership, which invests in projects that protect wildlife, restore habitats, and strengthen local communities.

What Conservation Projects Does Scenic Hotel Group Support?

Through the Nature Economy Partnership, Scenic Hotel Group supports the West Coast Penguin Trust and the Ōkārito Plant Project, helping protect native species, biodiversity, and important ecosystems across the West Coast.

Why Is Regenerative Tourism Important?

Regenerative tourism aims to leave destinations better for future generations. It supports conservation, strengthens communities, and helps protect the natural environments that make places like the West Coast so special.