The Small Business Project: Getting tourists off the bus and into the bush

Monday, 27 November 2023

The Small Business Project is a weekly series that shines the spotlight on Kiwi small businesses doing interesting and unusual things.

When Gavin Oliver moved to New Zealand, he ditched the corporate world for tourism, and co-founded EcoZip Adventures on Auckland’s Waiheke Island.

Earlier this month, his business took out the Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust Community Engagement Award 2023 at the industry’s annual awards.

Oliver tells Miriam Bell how the concept of commercial conservation drives what his business does, and why sustainable tourism and community involvement matter.

What has your venture set out to achieve?

EcoZip Adventures was established in 2012, with the intention of getting “visitors out of tour buses and into the bush”. Our business was built on the concept of commercial conservation, or the belief that profit doesn’t need to be the sole reason to be in business.

As a result, we’re now a multi-award tourism experience that is funding conservation initiatives and championing the work of local not-for-profit groups, whose aim is the protection of the natural environment.

How does EcoZip engage and work with the community?

We don’t see ourselves as being apart from the community, we’re in the community. We run multiple initiatives, designed to ensure we are a business our local communities can be proud of. For example, on Waiheke, we recently welcomed over 150 residents to our second annual Locals Day, which raised over $7000 for two charities nominated by the community - The Kiwi Kids Charity and the Jassy Dean Trust.

On a broader scale, EcoZip Adventures is sponsoring two students from Auckland and Christchurch to a two-year scholarship, each valued at $15,000 a year, to study at the Queenstown Resort College. The scholarship provides a stepping stone into the industry for the future generation of tourism leaders.

What’s your main focus for the business?

The experience we provide has two purposes - proving that adventure tourism really is for everyone, even the non-adventurous, and that conservation and business can go hand-in-hand. As part of their experience, the guests on our tours learn how they leave a lasting environmental legacy, as we channel part of their experience’s price into a range of conservation and sustainability projects.

Tell us about the environmental work EcoZip is involved in, and why it matters?

We have initiatives on our own sites, and in partnership with other organisations.

On Waiheke, we have a well-established weed and pest eradication programme that’s helping to restore a section of ancient native forest, parts of which are over 700 years old. We also supply funding to local not-for-profit groups to help protect and restore other important ecological sites, such as wetlands on Waiheke.

In Kaikōura, we will be restoring farmland to native forest, and working with community groups to get behind local projects of significance.

It matters because we’re focused on the kind of legacy we’re going to leave as business owners and operators. The intention is to leave the land, and the regions, where we operate in a better ecological and environmental state.

How much time and money have you invested in it until now?

On Waiheke our dollar investment is significant. But rather than focus on money, we look at the tens of thousands of native trees we have funded and planted, and the thousands of man hours that have gone in to protecting and restoring the forest of which we’re the kaitiaki, or guardians.

We’re excited about extending this process to Kaikōura, where we believe we can make a significant impact, planting as many as 30,000 trees annually once we’re established.

Is EcoZip in expansion mode?

Yes, by the end of 2023 we will be opening a new zipline and eco-tourism experience just 15 minutes south of Kaikōura in Rakanui Station.

We’re building five giant ziplines, ranging from 250m to 620m in length, interconnected by a series of walking trails. Each zipline delivers a breath-taking experience and incredible views.

The experience begins with crossing the Kahutara river in a 4X4 vehicle, and ends with a walk back to base through our native tree nursery and regenerating forest.

Our twin cables make this a unique, social experience. Our guests will be able to fly side-by-side with a friend or family member down lines totalling more than 2.2km.

Where do you see the business in three years’ time?

Our new Kaikōura site has plenty of room for development, so once the ziplines are established we’ll look at possibly introducing other eco-tourism focused elements. We’re also getting an increasing number of consulting opportunities arising, so we would like to help other businesses embrace sustainable tourism opportunities.

What’s one thing you wish you had known before starting the business?

How much social media and the digital environment would change our business landscape, and how quickly. For a long time it felt like we were constantly playing catch-up, and we’re still discovering almost daily that we have yet more to learn. It’s radically changed the way we communicate with our clients and stakeholders, largely for the better, and has undoubtedly made us a more responsive business.

Is this your first stint owning and running your own business?

I arrived in Aotearoa from England, with my then young family in 2008. After spending over 20 years in the commercial world, I decided that there had to be more to life than the “corporate grind”, commuting and in seemingly endless rounds of meetings.

In 2009 I launched my first New Zealand business, Milestone Tours, which specialised in high-quality, small-group, guided tour experiences. In 2010 I met my business partner who I co-founded EcoZip Adventures with, and by 2011 we were feverishly planning for the business.

Most helpful piece of advice you have ever received?

“Seek first to understand” is the mantra of my business partner, Chris Hollister. In practice this means taking time to understand other peoples’ perspectives and motivations before making decisions or reacting. It is a lot like the old advice to use your ears and mouth in direct proportion, you can learn a lot by just listening.

‒ If you would like to take part in The Small Business Project, email us at aimee.shaw@stuff.co.nz