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.
Key Sponsorships
RealNZ Conservation Ball
The RealNZ Conservation Ball is our annual black-tie event, where 100% of the ticket price supports critical conservation initiatives. Since its launch in 2015, this event has raised over $833,000, making a significant impact on conservation efforts.
- 2025 - $169k raised for the Pukunui / Southern NZ Dotterel
- 2024 - $150k raised for the Takahē Relocation Project (Southern Lakes Sanctuary partnership)
- 2023 - $175k raised for the Kākāriki Karaka Translocation Project
- 2019 - $54k raised for the Cardrona Kārearea Conservation Project
- 2018 - $85k raised for the Dusky Sound Restoration Project (DOC partnership)
- 2017 - $100k raised for the Wakatipu Wildlife Trust & Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust
- 2016 - $65k raised for Dusky Sound Restoration Project (DOC partnership)
- 2015 - $35k raised for DOC Kākāpō Recovery Team
Cruise-for-a-Cause
Since 2015, 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, Dunedin's Wildlife Hospital and more. RealNZ provides the overnight vessels, crew, dinner, breakfast and water activities at no cost. Cruise-for-a-Cause has raised over $300,000 for non-profit groups since it's inception.
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.
Pomona Island Charitable Trust
Every coffee counts. At Waiau Street Café, Manapouri, and aboard the Patea Explorer, 50 cents from every coffee helps protect the endangered Haast/Tokoeka Kiwi. Between Oct 2024 and May 2025, our guests have so far raised $14,250 for predator eradication on Pomona and Rona Islands, home to vital conservation efforts. We cruise past Pomona Island daily, but it’s more than a view. It’s a reminder of the work we support and share with our guests. Next time you visit Doubtful Sound, grab a cup, knowing it helps our taonga species thrive.
Leslie Hutchins Conservation Foundation
We donate a portion of every ticket to Patea Doubtful Sound to the Leslie Hutchins Conservation Foundation. This means each year our passengers contribute more than $60,000 simply by choosing to travel to Doubtful Sound with us!
Projects supported by the Leslie Hutchins Conservation Foundation include dolphin research, protection programmes for endangered birds, track and interpretation signage, outdoor education camps and wilding pine eradication.
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.
Community Sponsorship Requests
If you would like to apply for sponsorship from RealNZ, please complete and submit our RealNZ Sponsorship Request Submission with details of your fundraiser. All sponsorship is offered in the form of vouchers for our experiences. We will consider sponsorship applications that align to our business principles; primarily
- Conservation
- Education programmes
- Assisting disadvantaged groups
- Health / Rescue
Terms & Conditions:
- At least 2 weeks notice must be given prior to the fundraising (and/or fundraising event).
- Any successful sponsorship recipients of must supply us with photos taken of the fundraising. We have the right to use these images for promotional use (i.e. on social media, media or website).
- Any successful sponsorship recipients of must notify us of the amount of funds raised from your fundraising efforts.
- Please start planning early and send in your application as soon as possible. We receive a large number of applications and have a limited annual allocation.
- All sponsorship applications must be received through our sponsorship form.
- All previous successful applicants need to make sure that you have sent through all information required for any previous sponsorship you have received from us.
