Sponsorship & Community
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata
What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, it is the people, it is the people. (Maori proverb)
Our guests tell us that it is our people who make their experiences unforgettable. As well as dedicating substantial funds to conservation work in our area, our pledge is to be held in the highest regard by our staff and the communities in which we live and work.
In the past year we’ve donated or helped raise over half a million dollars for a number of conservation and community initiatives.
Key Sponsorships
Annual Cruise-for-a-Cause
For the last five years, RealNZ has dedicated its final training cruise of the Milford and Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruises as fundraisers for charitable organisations like the Cancer Society, Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, Forest & Bird, and Dunedin's Wildlife Hospital. RealNZ provides the overnight vessels, crew, dinner, breakfast and water activities at no cost. Cruise-for-a-Cause has raised almost $300,000 for eleven non-profit groups since 2015.
Read more about our annual Cruise-for-a-Cause results and about the Cause
The Real Journeys Queenstown Winter Festival
RealNZ (formally Real Journeys) is the title partner sponsor of the Queenstown Winter Festival – helping ensure the Queenstown Winter Festival continues to be one of New Zealand’s most iconic events and the southern hemisphere’s biggest celebration of winter.
In 2017, RealNZ stepped in to help out the Winter Festival, sponsoring the Friday Night Party & Fireworks. The following year it became the first local business to step up as naming sponsor in the festival’s 43-year history.
RealNZ continues to be the title sponsor of the Winter Festival in 2020 which runs from 18 – 21 June 2020.
Annual Conservation Expeditions
Each year, RealNZ partners with the Department of Conservation (DOC) and dedicates two of its multi-day Discovery Expeditions to raising awareness and funds for the Cooper Island Restoration Project in Fiordland’s Dusky Sound. RealNZ donates $500 from each ticket. Last year, these raised almost $60,000.
Birds of a Feather Conservation Ball
The Birds of a Feather Conservation Ball is one of the most lavish events on Queenstown’s social calendar. RealNZ foots the bill for the entire black tie event and 100% of the ticket price goes towards a conservation initiative. Since its launch in 2015, the Birds of a Feather Charity Ball has raised almost $340,000 for conservation. After a successful five years, we have decided to pause this event in 2020 while we work on a fresh format going forward.
NZ Golf Open 2017 - 2019
In March, RealNZ joined forces with three other tourism operators as the ‘Queenstown Group’, to sponsor of the NZ Golf Open. This event on the PGA Tour of Australasia is run in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour.
RealNZ wanted to do its bit to help support this important local event which is broadcast in twenty countries, attracts significant international media and helps showcase Queenstown and New Zealand to the rest of the world.
Our Executive Chef Mauro Battaglia enjoys mixing with the locals and golfing community at a food stall set up at the event, offering a sample of the delicious fresh local produce served at the Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ.
Real Journeys Friday Night Party & Fireworks and 'Thank You' Cruise 2017
As sponsor of the Friday Night Party & Fireworks, Real Journeys created an evening to remember for 200 community volunteers and their families. A ‘Thank You’ evening cruise was held on the TSS Earnslaw, culminating in a ‘toot’ of the steamship’s horn to set off the Winter Festival fireworks display. Volunteers were nominated for their work in all areas of the community including the local fire brigade, hospice shops, conservation and sports groups. Each volunteer received invitations to the celebratory cruise where their contribution to the communities in the southern region was recognised.
OTHER SPONSORSHIP & COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
- SOUTHLAND ENVIRONMENT AWARDS ‘ACHIEVER’S AWARD’
Every year since 2004, we have sponsored this special award for going above and beyond the call of duty in dedication and commitment to the environment. - ANNUAL TE ANAU WINTER ILLUMINATION FESTIVAL
This festival aims to break up the long dark southern winter with amazing lights and events. - LAKES DISTRICT AIR RESCUE TRUST
RealNZ supports this trust which provides 24/7 emergency and rescue aerials over much of the southern region in which we operate. - FIORDLAND TRAILS TRUST
The Lake2Lake trail runs alongside Lake Te Anau and the East side of the Waiau river towards Lake Manapouri. A donation will help complete stage two of the trail. - STEWART ISLAND RAKIURA COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT TRUST (SIRCET)
$5 from each Stewart Island Experience Guided Walk is donated to SIRCET, a non-profit organisation that promotes projects that benefit the Stewart Island/Rakiura community and its environment.
Sponsorship Requests
If you would like to apply for Sponsorship for your cause, please use the link below: