A small collection of young plants in black pots placed on the ground, next to some gardening tools and a large white water container.

Ko ahau te Maunga, ko te Maunga ko ahau

Sustainability

Let’s get the conservation flowing. As kaitiaki of Cardrona and Treble Cone, caring for our people and place is always at the heart of what we do. We are responsible for nurturing, conserving, and truly regenerating the mountains. After all, it is not about doing less but doing better.

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Planted over 7,000 native seedlings

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Successfully removed over 800 pests

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Eliminated 52,000 plastic bottles annually

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Saved 44,107 guests' car emissions

A person working outdoors near a composting site. The individual is dressed in dark clothing with "Cardrona" visible on the leg, indicating a possible affiliation with the Cardrona ski area.

Sustainability projects

What We're Doing

Our waste reduction has been underway for over ten years! It began in 2013, when we decided to remove plastic packaging from pies, saving more than 24,000 plastic packets reaching landfill each year. Here’s what we’ve been up to since then:

  • 2014 - We removed all plastic straws.

  • 2017 - We removed single use plastic from food and beverage outlets.

  • 2018 - We partnered with Wastebusters Wānaka and suppliers to return uniform to charity for donation and repurposing.

  • 2020 - Plastic bottles were eliminated from both Cardrona and Treble Cone saving 52,000 plastic bottles going to landfill every year.

  • 2021 - We removed landfill bins from both mountains, plastic packaging from fresh produce and implemented a Tupperware return system.

  • 2021 - Base Bar at Cardrona went plant-based and all confectionaries had to have compostable packaging.

  • 2022 – We removed cardboard slides from Captain's Pizzeria, eliminating 20,000 units per year.

  • 2023 – We introduced oil filtration at Captain's; began collecting old oil for bio-diesel, and removed the soft drink glass range.

  • 2024 – We installed post-mix systems at Captain's, saving over 3,000kg of soft drink cans from transport via groomer. We also introduced composting at Captain's, saving 2,000kg of food scraps and coffee grinds from being transported by groomer.

As an industry that relies on cold temps, we know we’re vulnerable to climate change, but also a contributor. We’ve developed a greenhouse gas calculation tool working together with all other New Zealand ski areas. We are also:

  • Providing free shuttles up the mountain roads to reduce car emissions.

  • Encourage carpooling with specific carpooling pickup spots along the mountain roads.

  • Invested in a modern grooming fleet that are diesel-electric.

  • Invested in modern snowmaking and transport which is more diesel-efficient, or are hybrids.

  • We have enrolled on the Toitu Carbon Reduce Programme to make serious steps towards reducing carbon emissions.

  • We plan to reduce our gross carbon and/or our intensity by 2027, from our base year measurement, and reduce emissions by 30% by 2030.

  • Qualmark Gold certified.

One of our top priorities is restoring and regenerating the life force of the maunga. The Plant a Seed Project at Cardrona and Treble Cone replenishes the native plant and tree species, creating habitats for birds, invertebrates and reptiles. Our commitment: repairing the damage done, enhancing the natural, native landscape, and reducing our carbon footprint.

  • Establishing a compost facility at Cardrona.

  • Nurturing a worm farm at Treble Cone to turn our organic waste into valuable compost.

  • Using our compost which we then use in our Plant a Seed Projects, closing the cycle of waste.

  • Over 6,300 native plants planted across both Cardrona and Treble Cone.

Removing predators from the maunga goes hand in hand with our Plant a Seed programme, it’s our way of creating a truly biodiverse environment that is safe for native species to thrive.

  • Help our native species thrive at Treble Cone and Cardrona and join us to assist Predator Free 2050.

  • Encouraging vulnerable native species thrive, like the kārearea, native plantlife, and invertebrates.

Watch Conservation in Action

Our Projects

Kārearea Project

Cardrona and Treble Cone are leading the charge to protect New Zealand’s native kārearea falcon, working with Parker Conservation to gather data and tackle predators, habitat loss, and human impact.

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A kārearea, or New Zealand falcon, perched on the tip of a pine branch. The bird has dark brown feathers with lighter speckled markings on its chest and a sharp, hooked beak. The background is filled with dense, dark green foliage, enhancing the natural setting and creating a sense of depth.

Plant a Seed

We’re restoring the lifeforce of the maunga with our Plant a Seed Project, regenerating native plants and habitats while reducing our carbon footprint.

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A person wearing a black shirt with the logo "Treble Cone" is holding a small plant with its roots exposed, ready for planting. They are wearing green gloves with the brand name "Bamboo" visible on the wrist. The focus of the image is on the plant and the hands, suggesting an activity related to gardening or environmental conservation, possibly part of a sustainability or reforestation effort.

Ride Tamariki

We believe every local child should have the chance to ski, so we partner with schools and community groups to offer snow experiences for kids and families in need, thanks to our dedicated volunteers.

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A snowy outdoor scene with a group of people standing in a circle. In the foreground, three individuals with their backs to the camera are wearing bright-coloired jackets (two red and one blue) branded with the logos "Cardrona" and "Treble Cone." In the distance, a larger group of people, dressed mostly in black, are gathered in the snow, some playing guitars. The scene appears to be a ceremony or cultural gathering, possibly a welcome or performance. Snow is falling, adding to the wintry atmosphere, and everyone seems engaged in the event despite the cold.

Predator Free Maunga

We’re committed to protecting Aotearoa’s native wildlife by removing predators to boost biodiversity on the maunga—join us at Treble Cone and Cardrona in supporting Predator Free 2050.

A kea, a large alpine parrot native to New Zealand, standing on a snowy surface. The bird has olive-green feathers with a hint of orange on its underwings, a curved beak, and a curious expression. In the background, there is a stunning mountainous landscape with a lake and snow-covered hills. The kea is positioned prominently in the foreground.

All In

We’re making the maunga a safe, supportive, and inclusive space for everyone by advocating for all communities, forming partnerships, and hosting specialised events and programmes.

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Three skiers gliding down a pristine, snow-covered mountain slope. The skiers are dressed in colourful gear—one in yellow, one in white, and one in black.

Re:Action Uniform Repurpose Project

Fast fashion is a huge problem, so we’re teaming up with Wānaka Wastebusters to rebrand and sell new and preloved uniforms, keeping clothes out of landfill and cutting carbon emissions.

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W24-Mountains Sustainability 1215x655-Uniform (1)

Frequently
Asked Questions

We have increased our bus capacity at each mountain, but due to us only using experienced drivers and buses suited to alpine conditions, of course our capacity is limited. On busy days, we will ask drivers who are confident driving the mountain road and are able to fill their vehicles to drive up. The new system is designed to maximise all vehicle capacity to reduce the environmental impact of mountain road usage as much as possible, while still operating in a safe and efficient manner.

We have been working hard with our suppliers to reduce and ultimately eliminate packaging from all of our retail products. For any items that we sell in the retail shops, we will remove the packaging and deal with it for you before you leave the shop. Many of our tags and packaging are reused.

There are a number of places where removing the landfill bin is just not practical, safe or appropriate. Medical waste, nappies, sanitary product bins etc. will all be in place for people to use. Our aim is to reduce our landfill waste, and removing bins from public areas will be a huge help here, and over time we will keep working hard to get to zero waste.

These we will collect along with compostable packaging, and combine with organic waste and turn into compost.

Just like at a DOC site, we are asking people to remove their own rubbish and not just dump it. Like we always do, we will sweep the resorts regularly to pick up any dropped litter. We know that people care deeply for the environment and are fundamentally tidy Kiwis, so will take their rubbish home with them.

Reusable Tupperware and/ or beeswax wraps are awesome options!

If you need our help we will gladly help in special circumstances, we aren’t going to leave people stuck!

Still need some help? Get in touch using our

An aerial view of Cardrona Alpine Resort at sunrise. Showcases base and park from above.

Ko ahau te Maunga, ko te Maunga ko ahau

The Cardrona Foundation

Spreading goodness, guardianship and conservation throughout our community.

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Bento bowl of rice, salmon, carrot, cucumber and beans, topped with bean sprouts.

Fuelling your adventure

Cafés & Restaurants

The cherry on top of your ski experience

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