Okarito Kayaks

07/09/2026

Okarito Kayaks are super-stoked to be finalists in the New Zealand Tourism Awards, for the KiwiRail Environment Award.

Most of our followers know we’re a pretty small, Mum-and-Dad business, and far away from the busy focus of tourism elsewhere in the country. It’s a huge deal for us, to be recognised for the choices we’ve made to look after our backyard, alongside the awesome scale of conservation work that Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, RealNZ and National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa do for nature, across the country.

The Environment Award acknowledges the significant, deliberate investments from tourism business – big and small - to leave our environment better than we found it, for nature and our kids futures.

We’re genuinely proud to stand alongside these great operators in this award - but also to be part of a tourism industry that does more than just talk; that rolls up it sleeves to demonstrate genuine, tangible kaitiakitanga and love for place.

There’s dozens of great operators across Aotearoa, not appearing as finalists in these awards, that also deserve support and recognition for the choices they make to look after our environment. From Terra & Tide - Waiheke Touring, Walking and Sailing Adventures, to Hiking New Zealand; Active Adventures to Pure Salt … or locally, the great work of Franz Josef Glacier Guides or Fox Glacier Guiding. Find and support the good ones, and we can all keep looking after this special place.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa - TIA Development West Coast West Coast, New Zealand Glacier Country NZ Department of Conservation Okarito GorseBusters

10/08/2026

With a cast of hundreds now, over the last six years, Department of Conservation still chose Baz to keep talking whilst everyone else did the hard work ....

Okarito GorseBusters. Best beach holiday ever.

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Tourism Industry Aotearoa - TIA West Coast, New Zealand Development West Coast Glacier Country NZ 100% Pure New Zealand Active Adventures

04/08/2026

Kia ora NZ. What are you up to this summer?

Okarito Kayaks are looking for a couple of hard-working, nature-loving, coffee-appreciating, kayak-polishing, good-humoured all round great people to come join us over this coming summer (and for many more if they like).

There's meaningful, busy work between November and April, a beautiful peaceful village community to live in, stunning beaches and a really neat, small & appreciative team to spend your summer with.

Full time work at Living Wage, along with inexpensive accommodation and lifestyle, means you can save most of what you earn.

If you're keen to join a small, informal team in an award-winning business that gives more back to the environment and community than it takes, or know anyone who might be, get in touch - we'd love to hear from you.

Vital skills include Kōtuku-spotting eyes; to be able to look good launching a kayak in both jandals and gumboots (tho not at the same time); boss-level flat-white making skills; knowing which end of a paddle is which; and the ability to spin a good yarn (or at least not roll your eyes at Baz's stories).

Keen? Give us a bell on 03 753 4014 or write to us here at [email protected]

28/07/2026

Our suppliers, friends, neighbours, and business mentors ... very proud for Ed and Rich to be finalists in the Sustainabilty Award; great example of a values-led business.

03/04/2026

And now we have to go back to the day job….

18/03/2026

And good looking locals….

18/03/2026

A place of harvest, conservation and goldrush, Ōkārito is rich in taonga, and home to the West Coast's oldest known building and the ancient Ōkārito lagoon.

15/03/2026

Sixth annual GorseBusters week takes place one week from now. A mammoth effort from volunteers, from all over the country, coming to join us at Ōkārito to keep this place special. Dozens of businesses, organisations, and households contributing goods and services to make their work go that bit further.

Looking after such a special backyard takes work. Huge thanks for all the support to help us do it.

22/02/2026

Just getting on with it since ages ago ...

Four weeks tomorrow. We're not out to s**g spiders either ...