Sustainability & Tiaki

We are as passionate about sustainability as we are about our food and wine! At Plume we employ a number of sustainable strategies including:

An energy efficient north facing New Zealand villa type building design with a low carbon footprint.
A building that incorporates the use of as many recycled materials as possible.
The utilisation of ‘rain gardens’ to aid in the uptake of stormwater run off and water conservation.
The use of wetlands and specific plantings to absorb water waste.
The biodiversity of the restaurant’s heritage gardens.

Plume believes firmly in the ‘3 R’s’: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and we actually walk the talk! We view sustainability as being environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically viable!

Sustainability

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
– Native American Proverb

We the owners and founders of Plume Restaurant and Plume Villas are as passionate about sustainability as we are about our food, wine and accommodation.

As parents, grandparents and the current guardians of land holdings around Matakana we are acutely aware of the responsibility we hold to our land, the region and the planet.

To that end, we employ a number of sustainable strategies including these in use at the main facility, the restaurant complex:

An energy efficient north facing New Zealand villa type building design with a low carbon footprint.
A building that incorporates the use of as many recycled materials as possible.
The utilisation of ‘rain gardens’ to aid in the uptake of storm water run-off and water conservation.
The use of wetlands and specific plantings to absorb water waste.
The carefully cultured biodiversity of the restaurant’s heritage gardens.

Above all the Plume offerings of its Vineyard, Restaurant and Villas are all based on the intertwining and interdependence on each other and are an offering to the senses of our valued customers. For example our Vineyard makes only around 15000 bottles a year of eight different varieties totally hand tended with perfect grapes not available anywhere else except in its restaurant and cellar door. If it is not an excellent year we just do not harvest. All our facilities are uniquely landscaped to the highest degree and maintained by a dedicated team bi weekly or weekly.

The Vineyard provides the wines you drink in our facilities and buy to take home from the cellar door at the Restaurant, the olives that we make into oil used in our restaurant and the fruits that go into so many of the fermentations and recipes of the Restaurant.

The restaurant provides a place to dine for the Villas guests, supports conference and weddings locations as well and is well integrated into the landscape settings of each other.

The entire team at Plume believes firmly in the ‘3 R’s’: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and they actually walk the talk! At the core of this is the fact that they view sustainability as being environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically viable!

The newly constructed Plume Villas utilise as many recyclable materials as possible in their construction and all are north facing to make the best use of sunlight.

We only use LED fittings for long life and low energy consumption as a principle.

Extensive and sensitive plantings are designed to create an ideal nesting ground for birds and over time and with further cultivation this should encourage, foster and protect the biodiversity of nature in the region.

Guests are encouraged to tread lightly, enjoy the surroundings and support these ‘3 R’ initiatives however and wherever they can.

“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”
– Robert Swan, author

Tiaki

Care for New Zealand was created through a collective desire to share a connection to the natural world, inspiring and helping visitors to travel safely and conscientiously.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, people have a strong connection to the place around them. Tangata whenua (people of this land) see nature as something intrinsically intertwined with their own lives. For Māori, every mountain, every river, every tree has a story. These stories form part of their own identities and help to shape their place in the world.

Tiaki invites us all to look at the world through this indigenous lens. To form a deeper connection with place, and to reflect this in our attitudes and behaviours.

To commit to travelling in this way is to take the Tiaki Promise.

This land tells the story of our people. This sky is our father, and this earth is our mother. This nature is part of us, and we are part of nature.

When you travel through Aotearoa New Zealand, you too are a part of this story. You too are part of this place. We all have a responsibility to protect it.

Tiaki means to care for people, place and culture. Care for New Zealand on your travels, for now and for future generations

All of us can support this by following the principles as below:

PROTECT NATURE
New Zealand’s nature is precious and many of our native species are endangered or at risk. Remember to care for land, sea, and nature when you travel.

KEEP NZ CLEAN
Kiwis are proud of this beautiful country and expect visitors to dispose of their litter and waste responsibly, even in remote areas.

BE PREPARED

Exploring New Zealand’s great outdoors can be very different to what you might have experienced in other places. If you are leaving urban areas, some preparation can help you get the most out of your trip and keep yourself safe.

DRIVE CAREFULLY
New Zealand has some of the most amazing scenic drives in the world, but our roads can be challenging at times. Drive carefully to keep yourself and others safe on the road.

SHOW RESPECT
Travel with an open heart and mind. By taking the opportunity to understand our culture and respect our customs, you’ll have a positive impact on the communities you visit. In return, the people of Aotearoa New Zealand will leave a lasting impact on you.

Learn More