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A tourism-led conservation initiative in South Westland is celebrating two years of grassroots action, demonstrating how operators can play a hands-on role in restoring the natural environment they rely on.
The Ōkārito Plant Project, led by the Ōkārito Native Plants Trust, marked the milestone with its second Annual General Meeting last week at Franz Josef’s Legacy Te Waonui Hotel. Since its inception, the project has grown into a model for regenerative tourism—uniting tourism operators, landowners, and local residents in coordinated environmental restoration efforts.
Over the past 12 months, OPP has recorded a 28 per cent increase in business membership, growing to 18 member businesses. More than 1020 volunteer hours were contributed through 15 community planting events. The project also helped sustain four part-time community roles and raised $23,368 in funding from grants, landowners, and business support.
Chairperson Aaron Smith says the project reflects a cultural shift in how tourism interacts with the environment.
“What we’re seeing is more than simply planting trees,” he says. “It’s a real shift in mindset—away from working in isolation toward working in partnership. The Ōkārito Plant Project is growing into a model for how tourism can give back to the land it depends on.”
A recent social impact survey showed 83 per cent of participants felt more connected to others in the community through the project, and the same number believed it had strengthened relationships between tourism businesses and the wider South Westland community.
Fox Glacier Guiding’s Libby Bron says the project had offered a tangible way for operators to give back to the whenua.
“Being involved in the Ōkārito Plant Project means being connected to something bigger than ourselves,” she says. “There is real satisfaction in seeing our time and effort make a visible impact.”
Ngāi Tahu Tourism general manager of Westland Tourism Janelle Shaw says the project holds deep personal and professional meaning.
“Growing up here, it fills me with pride to see the whenua being cared for and restored,” she says. “As an employer, it’s incredibly rewarding to offer our kaimahi the opportunity to connect with the land in a meaningful way, beyond their everyday roles.”
Development West Coast’s nature economy lead Zak Shaw says the project is redefining the role of tourism in regional sustainability.
“Reaching the two-year milestone is a testament to the power of collective action,” he said. “The Ōkārito Plant Project is showing what’s possible when businesses become a force for regeneration.”
Landowners have also seen direct benefits. Mike Purcell of the Purcell Family Trust says the work on their Whataroa property has transformed the site and created a platform for future development.
“It’s been humbling to see genuine community involvement throughout the year,” he says.
“The team has provided us with a template and structure to continue developing the site as an exemplar for sustainable land use.”
Looking ahead, the Trust is aiming to scale the initiative further by employing a dedicated Nursery and Field Worker, as well as a Project Coordinator, to expand the project’s reach and impact.
