Albatross Encounter

Encounter Kaikoura is a locally owned business. The three business partners are Ian Bradshaw, Dennis Buurman and his wife Lynette. Ian Bradshaw, along with Dennis’ brother Rik Buurman, were the first to make specific ‘swim with the dolphin’ tours in New Zealand, back in the summer of 1989-90. In the year of 1991 Dennis and Lynette joined Dolphin Encounter. In 1999 Rik decided to move on to other things and sold his share to the other partners.

The same pioneering spirit that produced the Dolphin Encounter tour in the 1980’s created the Albatross Encounter tour in 1998. Kaikoura is known as the Albatross capital of New Zealand – if not the world and up to 12 species of albatross can be found along the coastline at Kaikoura.

Encounter Kaikoura is focused on providing a natural experience, where any interaction with the dolphins is on the terms of the dolphins, not an experience which is fabricated. We are committed to a strategy which focuses on environmental sustainability and developing improved operating efficiency. This will ensure our clients experience a nature based activity at its very best; with the least impact on the environment and the marine mammals we interact with.

In September 2004 the business moved to new premises and developed a cafe, conference facility and retail gallery all within the same complex, as the booking centre for the tours.

The Encounter Kaikoura partners consider sustainable practices as essential to the business and in 2003 they embarked on the Green Globe accreditation system. GREEN GLOBE 21 is a global benchmarking, certification and implementation system for sustainable travel & tourism. It is based on Agenda 21 principles for sustainable development, endorsed by 182 Heads of State at the Rio de Janeiro United Nations Earth Summit. It provides a path to sustainable travel & tourism. Independent auditing began in 1999 and an amendment was made in 2007 to include a biannual onsite audit. Encounter Kaikoura first obtained Benchmark status in 2003 and again in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Certification was achieved in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

In 2009 Encounter Kaikoura achieved Qualmark Enviro Gold, the highest achievable level with Qualmark, the accreditation system to New Zealand tourism operators.