Star of sustainability: Award-winning holiday park supported by Seekom

Tracy says she discovered Seekom’s property management software six years ago and hasn’t looked back. The park now uses it for everything from booking and housekeeping management to reporting and guest communications.

“It's good, I wouldn't change from Seekom. There's great support available and I like the simplicity of it.
I can log in on my phone and use it when I'm not on site as well. I just find it easy to use.”

The TOP 10 Holiday Parks Sustainability Excellence Award considers sustainability, culture and heritage, and community engagement, and Kauri Coast TOP 10 scored highly on its way to securing the win.

Tracy says one of the park's most fun sustainability initiative is a boat race held at Easter and New Year’s Eve. Guests build boats from recyclable materials and race them down a river that runs through the park. 

The event has been running for more than five years and has become a highlight of guests’ stays, with hundreds of people lining the riverbanks to cheer the recycled boats on. After a winner crosses the line, the boats are all caught by a net and recycled. 

“It helps spread the message that many materials we think are trash can be re-used,” Tracy says.

Cultural connection is integrated throughout the park's operations. Tracy says all staff are trained in the values promoted by New Zealand tourism industry’s Tiaki Promise, and well versed in the park’s environmental and sustainability policies. That ensures the parks aims and objectives are embraced by the whole team. 

Story boards share the history of local flora and fauna, while self-guided Kiwi-spotting tours are available a short drive away, and QR codes with authentic kiwi and morepork calls help guests engage with wildlife, and information about kauri die back is displayed throughout the park. Tāne Mahuta, the largest known kauri tree in Aotearoa, towers over the nearby Waipoua Forest, welcoming visitors to experience its majestic presence.

Tracy says the park hires local staff to support the community and draw on their cultural knowledge and connection to the land, enriching the guest experience with authentic, culturally rooted insights.

Underpinning the park’s success are TOP 10 Holiday Parks’ values of respect, integrity, team loyalty and excellence, intertwined with its support of the Tiaki Promise, which encourages visitors and operators to respect the environment, community and cultural heritage of Aotearoa and to travel with an open heart and open mind.

As the holiday park heads towards another busy summer season, Tracy says her team won’t be resting on their laurels.

“We'll definitely keep focusing on sustainability and exploring new ways of doing things. Even small actions can have a big impact.”

With Seekom software under the hood and a trophy cabinet now sporting a brand-new award, Kauri Coast TOP 10 Holiday Park is living proof that sustainability, efficiency and guest satisfaction can all exist in harmony. All it takes are the right systems and a desire to care for your little patch of the world, leaving it a better place for all who come after you.