The Mārahau Pledge
Mārahau, Abel Tasman National Park
The Mārahau Pledge is a practical commitment by businesses working in the visitor sector in Mārahau to protect and enhance the environment they love and work in.
Tread lightly, and explore slowly.
The Mārahau Pledge started with a simple idea: what if every tourism business in our little coastal village worked together instead of just alongside each other? In late 2022, that idea became reality when all ten local operators sat down and made a commitment that would put Mārahau on the map for all the right reasons.
It wasn't just about signing a piece of paper. These businesses, from water taxi crews to adventure guides, decided to put their money where their mouth is. They committed to going carbon neutral, sharing their sustainability wins and fails with each other, and putting real dollars from every tour back into protecting the place they call home.
What makes this story special isn't just that it happened, but where it happened. Mārahau might be the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park, but it's still a small community where everyone knows everyone.
When the whole industry decides to pull in the same direction, that's when real change happens. The pledge has become a blueprint that other destinations across New Zealand are keen to follow, proving that sometimes the best ideas come from the smallest places.
23 January 2025
A new sculpture seven years in the making is proving the perfect welcome to Mārahau.
The Press | 2 February 2025
In the small village of Mārahau, at the entrance to New Zealand’s most visited national park, big things are happening.
