Mārahau is a small coastal settlement in Te Tauihu, the top of the South Island. It is around 60 km from Nelson, and around 20 km from Motueka. It is the main gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park. Mārahau has around 200 permanent residents.

• Anything you bring in with you, take out – this includes plastic, glass, and food waste

• Respect the plants and wildlife – the only thing from the Park you should be taking is photographs

• Our native birds are not adapted to human food, so please don’t feed them, no matter how cute they are!

• You can also take the Tiaki promise

• Care for land, sea and nature, treading lightly and leaving no trace

• Travel safely, showing care and consideration for all

• Respect culture, travelling with an open heart and mind

The literal translation for Mārahau is windy garden – māra = garden, hau = wind.

Ngāti Rārua and Te Ātiawa are the manawhenua (iwi with traditional authority) in Mārahau. You can read more here and here about the iwi connected with Mārahau.

While the businesses will cooperate on sustainability, the nine businesses will still compete as individual businesses, with different offerings and prices.

Ekos is a Te Tauihu-based company that helps businesses measure, reduce and offset their carbon.

The Environmental Access Fee (EAF) is a portion of the ticket price that goes directly towards preserving the unique environment in Mārahau and the Abel Tasman National Park. You’ll see it as a separate line on your ticket. Students on school trips and conservation volunteers are not charged the EAF.

The EAF includes the compulsory concession fees paid to the Department of Conservation, as well as voluntary contributions to local organisations and projects to improve the environment, ecology and access to the national park.

The EAF is made up of three parts:

• The concession fee tourism operators pay the Department of Conservation to access the Abel Tasman National Park. DOC invest this money directly back into the Park.

• The ‘Birdsong Levy’ that tourism operators voluntary contribute to the Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust

• The Mārahau Pledge fee which will go directly to projects that will benefit the environment and community of Mārahau

We’ll continue to update the Mārahau Pledge website with information about projects funded via the Mārahau Pledge.

If you’ve got a project idea for the Mārahau Pledge email us HERE

Click HERE to contact us.