Our passion for the environment

Kaitiakitanga is a Māori term that means guardianship of the land. We never take our stunning environment for granted and are committed to preserving our ‘slice of paradise’ here in Fiordland – we do everything we can to reduce our footprint on the environment. We are proud to have been awarded: 2023 Certificate of Participation in the Sustainable Tourism Programme.

We support the wider Fiordland environment through the following initiatives

• We are long-time, committed sponsors of the Antipodes Islands Parakeets (Kakariki), who live nearby in the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary – only a 20 minute stroll from Radfords on the Lake! See them in action here
• We are silver sponsors of the Fiordland Trails Trust, which recently created the Lake2Lake cycle trail linking Lake Te Anau with Lake Manapouri

Within Radfords on the Lake itself, we reduce our environmental footprint via

• Being proactive with recycling, including donating goods from our apartments to the local church’s second-hand store whenever anything is updated
• Wherever possible, buying locally and buying in bulk to reduce packaging and freight
• We compost everything possible and the food scraps get feed to our hens, which supply us with fresh farm eggs.
• All of our units have been re-lined with polystyrene to contain heat, reducing the energy resources we consume
• Our bikes are free-to-use for guests, reducing the need for motor vehicles to explore locally
• We are proudly 90% chemical free  in cleaning and use natural cleaning products
• We use colour-coded microfibre cloths for each different cleaning purpose – reducing waste

The Tiaki Promise & Maanakitanga

Click here to find out more

EKSO – Journey towards net zero carbon certification

At Radfords on the Lake, we are deeply committed to environmental sustainability and proud to have achieved Ekos Net Zero Carbon Certification. This milestone reflects the dedicated efforts of Kerri and Katie, who completed the Great South Sustainability Tourism Programme and Katie led our journey through the rigorous Ekos certification process. By carefully gathering and monitoring our emissions data, we achieved 100% Net Zero carbon status—recording 27.72 tCO2e—and implemented meaningful changes such as upgrading ceiling insulation, switching to Meridian Energy’s 100% renewable electricity, and purchasing carbon credits through Permanent NZ Restorative Forests to support the regeneration of 69 hectares in Kaikōura. Katie has also enhanced our environmental compliance by completing a three-day course in Freshwater Farm Planning, aligning with government regulations. These actions demonstrate our ongoing commitment to operational excellence, transparency, and inspiring a more sustainable future for our guests, community, and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Eco-friendly wool dryer balls

At Radfords on the Lake, we believe in making thoughtful choices that help protect our beautiful backyard. That’s why we love these 100% New Zealand wool dryer balls, a simple yet impactful way to reduce energy use and support local farmers.

💚 Cuts drying time by 25% = Less power, lower costs
💚 No chemicals, no waste = Natural fabric softener
💚 Lasts up to 1,000 loads = A gift that keeps giving

Guests can pop by reception and grab a set and take a piece of sustainable Aotearoa home with you!