Businesses keen to learn more about sustainable practice here and around the globe and how adopting sustainable practices can work for them are invited to a Sustainable Business Seminar during Environment Week in early June.

The seminar, to be held at Crowne Plaza Queenstown on 6 June, has been organised by Queenstown-based public relations company Southern PR in conjunction with Auckland's Creo Sustain, Tourism New Zealand and Crowne Plaza Queenstown.

Attendees will hear from international experts in the field as well as local operators who are already making sustainable practice work for their businesses.

Well-known American adventurer and eco travel journalist Richard Bangs is the seminar's keynote speaker. Richard has toured the world promoting eco tourism, hosts a TV series "Adventure with a Purpose" and is being hosted in New Zealand by Tourism New Zealand for Environment Week. He will also launch his new book "The Quest for Kaitiakitanga: The Ancient Maori Secret from New Zealand that Could Save the Earth" while in the country.

Mexican-based journalist and facilitator Ron Mader will virtually join the seminar by webcam to introduce Planeta.com, the internet's first site dedicated to ecotourism.

Steve Henry of the Otago Polytechnic Centre for Sustainable Practice will discuss the opportunities for Queenstown from local, national and international perspectives.

Kiri Goulter from Tourism New Zealand will provide insight into Kaitiakitanga ('guardianship of the environment that supports us') as a foundation for sustainability. Kiri will also present research about the expectations of international visitors.

Tim Rainger and Andy Allison from Creo Sustain, the country's leading communication agency specialising in sustainability issues, will talk about how to effectively communicate sustainability to key stakeholders.

Destination Queenstown CEO David Kennedy will open the seminar and a series of local business leaders will present their experiences and practical tips in the Sustainable Practice in Action series.

Seminar organiser and Southern PR director Alexa Forbes says sustainability is a global 'buzz word' but the reality is that many people are still hazy on what practical steps need to be taken and what support is available to adopt an environmentally responsible mindset.

"Sustainable practice is becoming essential to business viability and our goal in organising this seminar is to bring together business people and other interested parties to pool experience and talk," she says. "In the process we've found some amazing people who are very willing to share their knowledge, for which I'm very grateful. It means we can offer Queenstown people a value-packed seminar where they can learn from some brilliant people.

"Attendees will have lots of opportunity to join in the discussion and will take away a bunch of practical ideas as well as some theory on how to incorporate sustainable practice into the heart of their businesses and brands."

The seminar runs from 9.30am to 4.30pm and costs $60 per person with morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea included.

For more details or to register for the seminar please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 03 441 1117 by Wednesday 4 June.

Sustainable business seminar invitation (372.00 KB)