End-of-Year Giving: Accelerating your Impact

Love Wānaka is here to champion our environment and rally the business community to ensure this special part of the world thrives long into the future. With less than 10% of our indigenous plant cover remaining, our lakes and rivers feeling the pressures of growth, and our precious biodiversity under constant threat, the time to act is now.

Donate to Love Wānaka before March 31 to claim your 33% charitable tax credit* for the 2024 financial year and play your part in protecting the environment at the heart of our home.

Need a little encouragement? We’ve compiled a list of the 33 reasons why you should join the movement, today.

Read on for all you need to know

Giving back and leading with purpose is no longer a “nice to have” – it’s an expectation. Luckily enough, there are plenty of business perks for those who strive to do better.

1. Stand out amongst the crowd – today’s travellers are more aware of their environmental impact, with 61% of travellers actively looking for sustainable options (Booking.com, 2023). Your support for Love Wānaka helps to differentiate your business and stand out amongst a growing crowd of conscious consumers.
2. Raise your profile – by supporting Love Wānaka, you’ll feature on our channels as a business that’s out there, doing good, helping you raise your profile and get in front of the right kind of traveller.
3. Strengthen your connection with your customers and community – integrating Love Wānaka within your business provides you with another avenue to connect with your audience and tell them who you are, and what you’re all about.
4. Build customer loyalty – sustainability is a key driver in attracting loyal customers willing to spend more on quality products and experiences (Accenture, ND). Giving back and making tangible commitments to the environment builds trust and will keep your visitors coming back time and time again.
5. Attract and retain top talent – 82% of employees believe company purpose is essential to job satisfaction (McKinsey, 2024). Partnering with Love Wānaka lets you bring your employees along on the mission and create a more engaged team who are motivated by a purpose beyond profit.
6. Boost sales – 43% of travellers are willing to pay more to support sustainable travel options. This can lead to increased bookings and customer loyalty (Booking.com, 2023). That’s more money in your pocket, and a lower environmental impact.
7. Protect our clean-green image – our region’s stunning natural scenery is the primary attraction for international visitors, with 62% of visitors motivated to book their trip thanks to the environment at the heart of our home (Destination Queenstown, 2024). Think of it as an investment in the future of your business, and the environment it relies on.
8. Enhance the visitor experience – our visitors value their connection to the environment and that our community demonstrates care towards it (Destination Queenstown, 2024). It’s therefore important that our business community continues to show leadership in looking after this place through tangible commitments.
9. Support your business accreditations – support your journey towards Qualmark, BCorp, and other business accreditations through verified giving. It’s a win-win!
10. Enjoy marketing and promotional opportunities – as a supporter of Love Wānaka, you’ll receive exclusive marketing and promotional support through our channels. Depending on the nature and level of your commitment, you’ll feature across our web and digital marketing channels, receive supporter-shoutouts, and be included in paid media and PR activity.

“We are so passionate about sharing our special place with the world, but we also know the responsibility that comes with it. Love Wānaka provides us with an opportunity to share a different side of Wānaka with our visitors, and invite them to play a part in looking after it for the future” – Liz Hills, Wānaka isite Visitor Centre

Surrounding yourself with the right people in business is not just good for morale, it’s a strategic move that can set your organisation up for future success. Join our community of changemakers and reap the rewards.

11. Connect with likeminded businesses – Love Wānaka is supported by a network of businesses who are passionate about looking after this place. Connect with others working in this space, provide networking opportunities for your team, or lend a hand in good company.
12. Amplify your impact with collective giving – no matter how big or small your contribution is, our giving model ensures your donation will make a difference. By partnering with visitors and businesses big and small, everyone has the capacity to drive impact, at scale.
13. Good governance – Love Wānaka is delivered in partnership with Lake Wānaka Tourism and the Wakatipu Community Foundation meaning we’ve got great reach with our visitors and the backing of the experts in the charitable giving space.

“Wānaka is one of the world’s great lifestyle playgrounds, drawing guests who are active, adventurous, and eager for a challenge. We are committed to protecting our environment, with initiatives like Love Wānaka enabling us—and our guests—to give back” – Nick Frame, Release NZ

Love Wānaka provides a smarter way to give, with the impact of your funding going further for you and the environment at the heart of our home.

14. High intent, high impact giving – our funding is allocated to registered charitable entities who drive climate, conservation, and biodiversity action in the region, with special consideration given to organisations and initiatives that will provide long-term benefit for both locals and visitors in Wānaka.
15. Proven results – 2023-24 was a year of firsts for Love Wānaka. Over 550 passionate businesses and visitors joined the mission, together giving more than $43,500 to support local environmental efforts. $35,000+ was granted to support immediate needs, with a further $8,500 invested for future generations. With the 2025 Impact Grants right around the corner, we’re inviting everyone to join the mission now so they can make a difference when – and where – it counts.
16. We help your giving go further – every dollar you give is destined for big things, with 100% of our funding going direct to impact. Thanks to the generous support of our delivery partners, everything we raise is on-allocated to those who need it most.
17. Strategic and responsive giving – Love Wānaka allocates funds on an annual basis, supporting immediate environmental needs through Annual Impact Grants. These grants are allocated to ensure benefit across multiple areas, so the organisations and initiatives poised to create impact receive the help they need.
18. Amplified impact – we’re fortunate to have such a caring and passionate business community, but unless we’re inviting our visitors to do their bit for the environment, we can only get so far. Love Wānaka ensures every visitor has the opportunity to lower their impact and give back in a way that makes a real and lasting difference.
19. Invest in nature-based solutions – when you give in this way, you (and the rohe / region) reaps the benefits in multiple areas: tree planting isn’t solely about carbon mitigation, it’s about supporting local biodiversity, improving soil and waterway health, beautifying the environment, and supporting climate resilience. That’s good bang for your buck.

“Big or small, every business has the power to contribute. When we collectively invest in Love Wanaka we help sustain our natural environment, support wildlife and protect our small but mighty patch of Mother Earth for generations to come. We encourage others to join us—because when we give a little, we all gain a lot” – Gray Campbell, Active Massage.

We’re proud to be creating lasting change and helping shape tourism’s legacy in our rohe / region.

20. Investing for the future – 20% of every dollar we raise is invested into an endowment fund with the support of our friends at the Wakatipu Community Foundation. This fund will grow over time, creating substantial, long-term funding opportunities for generations to come.
21. Funding for long-term benefit – we carefully consider each project or initiative to ensure our funding supports environmental efforts that will make a difference long into the future. Think of it as planting the seeds of tomorrow.
22. Creating a legacy we can be proud of – Love Wānaka provides an opportunity for our industry to leave a legacy we can be proud of and to inspire change the world over. Regions around the world are looking to Wānaka as leaders in this space, so let’s show them what’s possible.

“Let’s show our locals, our visitors, and our kids what we’re about, and play our part in protecting the environment we all benefit so much from. Without it, we quite literally would not exist” – Charlie Cochrane, Racers Edge

Unique challenges require unique solutions – so let’s put the big decisions in the hands of those who are best placed to deliver impact, at scale

23. Unlock expert guidance – our independent distribution committee is tasked with allocating funds to the organisations and initiatives who can drive impact where it’s needed most. This committee consists of local experts in both the grant-making and sustainability / environmental space so you can be confident knowing you’re making a genuine difference.

“For our community to reach its goals, we must be innovative, dedicated, and focused. Love Wānaka is an excellent example of this – demonstrating the power of collaboration and the immense potential we have to benefit our communities indefinitely” – Jennifer Belmont, Wakatipu Community Foundation

Love Wānaka is all about channeling the love we have for this place into meaningful action, with 100% of our funding supporting grassroots efforts within this region.

24. Look after the place you love – every dollar we raise goes straight back to this region, with funding exclusively allocated within the Upper Clutha. You’ll get to see and feel the benefits of your support and be part of creating a more resilient environment for all.
25. Drive impact where it counts – by supporting Love Wānaka, you’re not only looking after your own backyard, you’re also investing in the environment at the heart of our visitor industry. That’s good for you, and good for business.
26. Boost community sentiment – conversations regarding the impact of tourism are ever-present in our region. Your support contributes to a good-news-story and ensures the local community continues to feel the value of tourism long into the future.

“Love Wānaka’s role as a connector helps unite purpose-driven organisations like ourselves with each other and with visitors in a shared effort to understand, protect and regenerate this region’s environment” – Millie Ginnet, WAI Wānaka

We’re here to make it easy for businesses to scale up their giving and take the hasssle out of doing good.

27. Flexible giving options – make a one off donation, or sign up for automated monthly contributions. If your situation changes, you can pause or cancel at any time. Donate online via credit card or make a bank payment.
28. Integrated and strategic giving – we want to simplify your giving approach, while maximising the impact it has on your business, and the environment we all care about. We’ll work with you to ensure the dollars you give mean more for your business and the organisations we support so you’re getting maximum bang for your buck.
29. One donation, multiple benefits – our funding supports grassroots environmental efforts throughout our region. With a particular focus on supporting initiatives with complimentary benefit, you can impact various areas of community need through one contribution.

Our environment needs us. And it needs us now.

30. Our environment is counting on us – despite its beauty, ours is an environment under threat. NZ has the highest number of threatened species per capita anywhere in the world, and this region is no different. With less than 10% of our indigenous plant cover remaining, our lakes and rivers feeling the pressure of growth, and our precious biodiversity under constant threat, the time to act is now.
31. Public conservation funding is under pressure – with environmental needs escalating, public funding for on-the-ground restoration efforts is simply not sufficient. It’s up to all of us to play our part in protecting the environment we love to ensure it’s here to be enjoyed for generations to come.

Enjoy the dopamine hit you get from knowing you’re doing good.

32. Give and get back – there’s no doubt about it: giving feels good. Regional Public Health NZ states that “Carrying out acts of kindness, whether small or large, can increase happiness, life satisfaction and general sense of wellbeing”. There’s no arguing with that.

33. Enjoy a charitable tax credit – thanks to our partnership with the Wakatipu Community Foundation, you can receive a charitable donation tax credit of up to 33% for your donations this financial year, making your impact even more significant. That means for every $100 you give, you’ll get $33 back. Shout the team a coffee, treat yourself to an afternoon off, or simply reinvest that into growing your business. Win-win-win.

     

    
    Tax disclaimer:

    Donations over $5NZD are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable under law.

    Individual donors can claim 33.33 cents for every dollar donated. Companies are also eligible for tax deductions, providing the claim does not exceed their total annual net income. A tax deduction reduces the amount of taxable income. Click here for further information or see your tax advisor for individual tax advice.

    All donations are non-refundable.