BUY A BOX:

Welcome to our Environmental Section.

They say it is the little things that we all do which help the most. So here in Te Anau at the Te Anau Lakeview holiday Park we came up with a vision to raise awareness of both local and global environmental issues, to provide an educational overview and the opportunity for our guests to take those first steps towards being part of the solution.

We began with an adopt a tree campaign whereby visitors were given the opportunity to Adopt a Tree for planting in our on-site Native Garden, This planting would offset some of the carbon those guests used during their New Zealand Holiday and also raise awareness of these issues. As we have now planted all 300 trees we have begun our local environmental campaign - 'Buy a Box

'Buy a Box' involves the building of a wooden box and the placement of a trap mechanism within to assist with the control and hopefully the eradication of introduced pests such as Stoats, Rats and Ferrets (See Links Below).

These traps will be placed in the Doon area of Fiordland National Park and on Lake Te Anaus western shores bordering the Special Area where the Native ground bird Takahe (Notornis) are rapidly nearing extinction from their original habitat high up in the Murchison Mountains.

If you wish to purchase one of these traps we will tag the trap with your name on it, GPS its position and photograph the site for you. We will also e-mail you with updates on the work being done in this area.

The traps will be placed in the Doon by volunteer staff from Tracknet, Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park, Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers, Fiordland Nature Observations, Edgewater Motels, Fiordland Cruises and La Toscana Pizza. These companies will also provide vessels, vehicles food and beverage for volunteers. If you wish to join us on a mission we will notify you of the dates we intend setting or checking the traps once you have purchased one.

These companies have collectively purchased 20 traps already to get the project underway but our target is to purchase 100 traps through the buy a box campaign.

The Department of Conservation have given us un-restricted access to the Doon catchment and obviously the more traps donated the better for this endangered species.

The traps and box costs around $60 each. If you are in a position to purchase a box for $60.00 please mention this when making a reservation on any of the businesses listed above secure websites.

For information about each of the species that are being targeted by our Buy a Box campaign please click on the species name below to follow the link to the Department of Conservation Website:

Stoats - Rats -

What was Adopt a Tree?

With this in mind the Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park offered the opportunity to purchase and donate plants to a native garden planted in our Holiday Park. We were pleased to be able to offer visitors from all over the world the opportunity to "offset" some of their own personal carbon use by planting a tree in our new Native Garden.

Our vision for our garden is a fantastic setting to enjoy a picnic lunch amongst the trees however there is more to this garden. Oh Yes. It is hoped that these trees we will attract Native Birds into the area, Also many of the native plant species we are using were used by Maori in the days before Europeans and supermarkets!

Lets start at the beginning!!

Did you know that as we move and exist on our planet human activities generate what recently has been referred to as a "Carbon Footprint", each individual's carbon use does vary depending on a number of factors or variables. Carbon is a naturally occuring element which is known as the building block of life; Carbon anchors all organic substances together on earth from fossil fuels to DNA. In the past Carbon has been naturally controlled by being cycled throughout the earths atmosphere and biota - there are many detailed diagrams, pictures and examples of this cycle on the internet, we have included some links below for your information.

Plants are a major part of the Carbon Cycle as they naturally break down carbon through cycles of their own called photosynthesis and respiration. As humans have cleared forests for the purposes of agriculture and timber logging they have taken a large chunk of the earths natural carbon reducers out of the mix. This along with other contributing factors has caused the Carbon Cycle on earth to become unbalanced. Carbon in moderation is best, too much Carbon is bad news for us as it appears to be causing the earth's temperature to increase; some scientists are predicting that this may cause the polar ice caps to melt which may in turn increase the level of the worlds seas.

The burning of fossil fuels and deforestation (cutting down trees) are said to be the worst culprits for introducing Carbon into the atmosphere. To be part of the soloution to this issue there are a lot of things we can do including planting trees to combat those being cut down.

How will planting a tree offset some of my carbon footprint?

We really could go into this in great detail but before you get bored the shortest explanation is that trees inhale carbon through their leaves (photosynthesis) and expel this as oxygen (respiration). Green trees and plants are the earths natural filtering system and they break down carbon and turn it into oxygen!

We are have planted 300 Native Trees and Plants which have been purchased by visitors planning their New Zealand holiday - They are Coprosma (30), Karaka (15), Kahikatea (15), Dianella (15), Kowhai (20), Kakabeak (15), Flax (30), Carex Grasses (30), Cabbage Trees (15), Manuka (25), Kanuka (25), Pittosporums (25), Hebes (20) and Akeakes (20) - These plants grow from 50 centimetres tall to over 30 metres.

YOU have the opportunity to visit our beautiful native garden when you come to New Zealand.

Once again a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to our Native Garden; offset some of their"carbon footprint" and provided future visitors with a wonderful amenity within our Holiday Park!!

Each Tree or Shrub has been labelled with the purchasers name and home country on it.

So what can you do to contribute?

Look at ways you can make your carbon use more economical on a daily basis.

Terms and Conditions:

Anyone can purchase a plant providing they agree with the following terms and conditions.

1. Payment per tree or plant is eight dollars NZD ($8.00 NZD)
2. The eight (8) dollars is for one (1) New Zealand Native Tree or Plant only.
3. The payment is the purchase price for the New Zealand Native tree or plant only.
4. Payment is accepted by The Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park in the form of a "donation".
5. Once purchased the plant is gifted to the Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park.
6. The New Zealand Native becomes the property of the Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park.
7. Each plant will be labelled with the name and country of origin of the purchaser.
8. The plant remains the property of the Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park.
9. Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park reserves all rights over the New Zealand Natives Purchased.
10. Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park reserves all rights over the ownership of the New Zealand Natives.
11. No claim may be made by the purchaser over these plants or the land in which they are planted.
12. The purchaser accepts that full ownership is by The Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park.

The Following companies are participating in this iniative - when you BOOK ONLINE with any of the below companies the option to "adopt a tree" is on their secure webpage. Payment will be deducted at the time of booking.

Finally a big THANK YOU - For your support and for supporting the below New Zealand family owned and operated businesses!

Educational Carbon Related Links: