Sustainability is in our DNA
Measurable conservation action in Queen Charlotte Sound / Tōtaranui
E-Ko links wildlife tourism with visitor education, wildlife records, guide training and practical conservation support.
This page shows the measurable action behind our conservation commitment.
Measured impact
What E-Ko is actively doing
These measures show practical action across wildlife data, responsible operations, guest education, guide training and conservation contribution planning.
Verified sightings entered
Marine mammal sightings entered into E-Ko’s Queen Charlotte Sound dataset, with more historical records still being reviewed.
Reduced dolphin swim effort
E-Ko has voluntarily reduced dolphin swim activity over time to lower pressure on dolphins and prioritise responsible viewing.
Wildlife education growth
E-Ko has grown from around 5,000 passengers in 2010 to around 15,000 passengers per annum now receiving wildlife education.
Guide training outcomes
Includes approximately 135 Level 2 Marine Guide outcomes, 60 Level 1 completions and 35 specialty course completions.
Contribution pathway
E-Ko is building a 5% after EBITDA conservation contribution pathway for measurable conservation, education and restoration outcomes.
Sounds Enhancement Project
E-Ko links tourism with wider conservation action through the Sounds Enhancement Project and local partner pathways.
Why this matters
This page is designed to give customers, agencies, partners and future investors clear proof of measurable conservation action.
Visitor education impact
Wildlife education at scale
Protection, regeneration and long-term sustainability start with education. Since 2010, E-Ko has used wildlife tourism to educate visitors about dolphins, seabirds, endangered species, island restoration and responsible wildlife viewing.
Education reach
From 5,000 to 15,000 passengers per year
E-Ko has grown from around 5,000 passengers receiving wildlife education in 2010 to around 15,000 passengers per annum today.
How E-Ko delivers education
Guided interpretation
Guides explain species, behaviour, threats and conservation action on every tour.
Onboard information
Guests receive real learning during the trip, not just transport.
Species and image libraries
Visitors can continue learning after the trip through E-Ko’s wildlife resources.
Free Hector’s Dolphin course
Guests can access a free Hector’s Dolphin course through Marine Guide Training.
Global training capability
E-Ko is also a global professional training agency, not just a tour company.
New Zealand point of difference
No other tourism company in New Zealand has built this kind of education and training pathway.
Why this matters
Education is one of E-Ko’s strongest conservation outcomes. By combining guided tourism with professional training, E-Ko helps create better-informed visitors and stronger support for wildlife protection.
How the model works
How tourism becomes conservation action
E-Ko uses tourism revenue to support wildlife education, trained guides, responsible operations, wildlife records and conservation partnerships.
Visitors book wildlife tours
Tour revenue supports local jobs, vessels, guides and wildlife access.
Guests receive education
Guides, onboard information and wildlife resources turn tours into learning.
Wildlife records are built
Sightings and field observations add to long-term local knowledge.
Wildlife pressure is reduced
E-Ko has reduced dolphin swim effort and prioritises responsible viewing.
Conservation is funded
E-Ko is building a 5% after EBITDA contribution pathway.
Why this matters
Tourism should help protect the places visitors come to experience. E-Ko’s model is designed to educate visitors, support wildlife and fund better outcomes.
Tourism alignment
How E-Ko supports New Zealand’s tourism direction
E-Ko supports higher-value, lower-impact tourism by linking visitor spending to education, conservation action, local jobs and better wildlife outcomes.
Higher-value experiences
Guided wildlife tours create more value than simple sightseeing.
Visitor education
Guests learn about dolphins, seabirds, islands and conservation threats.
Evidence-based action
E-Ko records wildlife sightings and builds long-term local knowledge.
Lower-impact wildlife tourism
E-Ko has reduced dolphin swim effort and prioritises responsible viewing.
Regional value for Picton
E-Ko helps turn Picton from a transit stop into a wildlife destination.
Guide training capability
E-Ko builds better marine guides through professional training.
What this means
E-Ko links tourism to conservation education, local employment, wildlife records, responsible operations and stronger regional value.
Wildlife data
Long-term marine mammal records
E-Ko records marine mammal sightings from time on the water in Queen Charlotte Sound / Tōtaranui. These records support education, operations and suitable research partnerships.
Verified records
5,000+ sightings entered
Further historical records are still being checked before publication.Why this matters
Better records support better decisions
Long-term sightings help show which marine mammals are present, when they are seen, and how wildlife uses the Sounds over time.
What is recorded
Dolphins, whales, orca and other marine mammal sightings.
Why it matters
Local records help show wildlife presence and seasonal patterns.
How it is used
Data supports education, guide training and responsible operations.
Access pathway
Researchers, agencies and conservation partners can request access.
Data access and research enquiries
Suitable researchers, universities, agencies and conservation partners can request access directly.
Request access: ceo@e-ko.nzWhy E-Ko data has value
It is collected over many years by people who work daily in Queen Charlotte Sound.
Conservative public claim
E-Ko publicly claims 5,000+ verified sightings entered while more records are reviewed.
Species and places
The wildlife and habitats behind our conservation work
E-Ko’s conservation activity is focused on the species, islands and habitats visitors encounter in Queen Charlotte Sound / Tōtaranui. We use tours, education, guide training and wildlife records to help people understand why these places need protection.
Orca, dolphins and whales
E-Ko records sightings and teaches visitors how to view marine mammals responsibly, with a strong focus on reducing pressure and improving public understanding.
Learn in the Wildlife LibraryLittle blue penguins and seabirds
Guests learn about seabird behaviour, nesting areas, feeding patterns and the importance of keeping wildlife disturbance low around shorelines and islands.
Learn in the Wildlife LibraryKing shag awareness
Queen Charlotte Sound is important habitat for rare coastal birdlife. E-Ko helps visitors understand why specialist species need space, respect and long-term protection.
Learn in the Wildlife LibraryOrange-fronted kākāriki
Predator-free island visits create a direct opportunity to teach guests about rare native birds, biosecurity, pest control and why island habitats matter.
Learn in the Wildlife LibraryMotuara, Blumine and Ship Cove
E-Ko connects visitors to predator-free islands, native forest, historic sites and walking tracks while reinforcing care for wildlife, tracks, shorelines and cultural places.
Explore E-Ko ToursEvery tour can become a conservation lesson
The aim is simple: visitors leave with better knowledge of the species they saw, the threats those species face, and the practical behaviours that help protect them.
Projects and partner support
Where E-Ko’s conservation effort is directed
E-Ko’s conservation role is practical: we educate visitors, support local conservation work, record wildlife observations, train guides and use tourism revenue to build long-term capability around Queen Charlotte Sound / Tōtaranui.
Marine mammal monitoring
E-Ko records sightings and field observations from time on the water, helping build long-term knowledge of dolphins, orca, whales and other marine mammals in the Sounds.
Predator-free island education
Guests visiting Motuara, Blumine / Ōruawairua and other island locations are taught why pest-free habitats, biosecurity and careful visitor behaviour matter.
Endangered species awareness
E-Ko uses tours, guides, onboard resources and online wildlife information to raise awareness of rare and vulnerable species found in and around Queen Charlotte Sound.
Marine guide training
Guide training improves the standard of wildlife interpretation and creates a clearer pathway for professional, responsible and conservation-led marine tourism.
Visitor learning resources
E-Ko supports guest education through onboard information, trained guides, wildlife images, species pages and learning pathways connected to marine conservation.
Future conservation finance
E-Ko is building a conservation contribution model where business performance can help fund measurable education, restoration and conservation outcomes.
Visitor education
Turning every wildlife tour into a conservation learning experience
E-Ko does not rely on visitors simply seeing wildlife. We build education into the full visitor journey: before the tour, on board the vessel, during guided interpretation, and after the trip through online learning resources.
Species awareness before visitors arrive
Visitors can learn about local marine mammals, seabirds, predator-free islands and endangered species through E-Ko’s wildlife and species resources before they step on board.
Explore Wildlife LibraryGuided interpretation in real conditions
Trained guides and skippers explain what guests are seeing, how wildlife behaves, why distance matters, and how visitors can reduce disturbance around marine mammals and seabirds.
View Wildlife ToursPredator-free island education
Island visits create a practical opportunity to explain biosecurity, pest control, native bird recovery, track care, cultural sites and why predator-free habitats are critical for threatened species.
Explore Island ExperiencesLearning continues after the trip
Guests can continue learning through image resources, species pages and online education pathways connected to marine wildlife, responsible tourism and conservation.
Continue LearningWhat E-Ko education covers
Dolphins, orca, whales, behaviour, viewing distance and disturbance reduction.
King shag, penguins, shags, shearwaters, gannets and coastal bird habitats.
Motuara, Blumine / Ōruawairua, biosecurity, native birds and island restoration.
Why lower-impact wildlife viewing, smaller groups and better guiding matter.
Habitat pressure, pests, disturbance, vessel behaviour and climate-related risk.
How visitor choices, education and business reinvestment support protection work.
Responsible wildlife operations
Reducing pressure on endangered dolphins while improving visitor education
E-Ko’s conservation model includes real operational change. We have reduced dolphin swim effort, increased education-led wildlife viewing, and trained guides to interpret wildlife in a way that supports protection rather than pressure.
Operational change
80% Reduction in dolphin swim effort over timeWhy this matters
Responsible viewing comes before volume
Dolphin swimming can create pressure when close contact becomes the main commercial outcome. E-Ko has deliberately shifted toward lower-pressure wildlife viewing, stronger interpretation and a conservation-led guest experience.
Less swim pressure
Reduced dolphin swim effort places more emphasis on observing natural wildlife behaviour.
Better guest understanding
Guides explain distance, patience, vessel behaviour and why disturbance reduction matters.
More education value
The experience becomes about wildlife knowledge, endangered species awareness and responsible viewing.
Stronger agency alignment
Operational choices support lower-impact wildlife tourism and conservation-led visitor outcomes.
Observe natural behaviour
Guides focus on helping visitors understand what wildlife is doing, rather than forcing an encounter.
Keep education central
Guests learn about marine mammals, seabirds, habitats, threats and responsible viewing behaviour.
Use trained guides
Guide training improves interpretation, guest management and wildlife decision-making on the water.
Prioritise small-group quality
Smaller guided groups support better communication, better viewing and lower-pressure wildlife tourism.
What responsible wildlife tourism should deliver
A stronger visitor experience, better wildlife understanding, reduced pressure on endangered dolphins, improved guiding standards and measurable conservation value for Queen Charlotte Sound / Tōtaranui.
Guide training and capability
Building better wildlife guides, not just better tours
E-Ko’s conservation work extends beyond visitor experiences. Through Marine Guide Training, we help improve wildlife interpretation, responsible viewing, visitor education and conservation-led marine tourism.
Training creates conservation capability
Professional guides turn wildlife encounters into education.
Training outcomes
230+ guide training outcomes
A trained guide changes the quality of a wildlife experience. They can explain animal behaviour, manage visitor expectations, reduce pressure on wildlife, improve safety and connect a tour to conservation outcomes.
Better interpretation
Guests understand what they are seeing, why the wildlife matters and how their behaviour affects animals.
Better decision-making
Guides are trained to make better choices around wildlife, changing conditions and visitor expectations.
Better visitor behaviour
Clear guidance helps visitors respect marine mammals, seabirds, island habitats and conservation rules.
Better industry standards
Training helps raise the professionalism of wildlife guiding and responsible marine tourism.
Training pathway
Scalable conservation value
Every better-trained guide can influence thousands of future visitor interactions. This makes guide training one of the most practical ways to improve tourism outcomes for wildlife.
Building a measurable conservation contribution model
E-Ko is developing a pathway that links tourism performance to conservation, education and restoration outcomes in Queen Charlotte Sound / Tōtaranui.
5% after EBITDA contribution pathway
E-Ko is building a model where part of business performance after EBITDA can support selected conservation projects.
Visitor revenue
Guests book wildlife tours, island visits and stay-longer experiences.
Business performance
Revenue supports jobs, vessels, guides and responsible operations.
Contribution pathway
After EBITDA, funds can be directed to selected conservation projects.
Reported outcomes
Projects can be tracked through records, updates and reporting.
Prepared carefully before launch
E-Ko is preparing a future pathway for people, agencies, businesses and partners who want to support measurable conservation outcomes.
Trust requirements
- Clear project selection
- Defined conservation outcomes
- Transparent reporting
- Responsible financial controls
- Partner and agency review
Potential project areas
- Marine mammal monitoring
- Predator-free island education
- Endangered species education
- Marine guide training
- Habitat restoration concepts
- Local conservation partnerships
Why this is credible
The model is based on measurable actions: verified sightings, visitor education, guide training, reduced dolphin swim effort and defined project areas.
What is still being formalised
E-Ko is finalising reporting, project selection and partner frameworks before public launch.
Picton gateway strategy
From ferry crossing to conservation tourism
E-Ko and PictonFerry.com work together to move travellers from a simple crossing into a higher-value Picton and Marlborough Sounds experience.
Why this matters
Picton should be more than a transit stop
Ferry travellers can stay longer, spend locally, visit wildlife sites, learn about conservation and support regional value.
Book the ferry
Make Cook Strait travel easier with local support.
Stay longer
Encourage travellers to add nights in Picton.
Experience the Sounds
Connect visitors with wildlife, islands and heritage.
Support stewardship
Use education to improve visitor behaviour.
MBIE tourism alignment
Regional value, better visitor flow and stronger stewardship
This approach supports New Zealand’s tourism direction by focusing on value, local benefit, visitor education and better management of natural places.
Regional value
More nights in Picton support accommodation, food, guiding, retail and transport.
Better seasonality
Stay-longer offers help build demand outside peak summer pressure.
Visitor management
Travellers can be guided to the right experience before they arrive.
Conservation connection
Wildlife tourism helps visitors understand why the Sounds need protection.
The practical outcome
Ferry travel becomes the start of a managed visitor pathway: stay longer, spend locally, learn more and support conservation.