Our Sustainability Practices

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At Paihia Mountain Bikes, we are extremely lucky to have the beautiful Bay of Islands as our backdrop. It’s a breath-taking place to work and we want to keep it that way for decades to come. That’s why we are committed to protecting the environment we operate out of for many more biker to come.

As a tourism operator we are part of Tourism New Zealand’s sustainability commitment to the Tiaki Promise. The Tiaki Promise is the commitment to care for Aotearoa, for now and for future generations. We are choosing play our part as a guardian, protecting and preserving our home.  

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Spreading The Stoke About Bike Riding

The more people we get out on bikes, the more people we have the opportunity to reignite the passion for bike riding – especially any Adults that haven’t ridden for 20 something years. Bike Riding uses minimal fossil fuels and is a pollution-free mode of transport, so the more people that get back into the love of riding, and commuting around the Bay of Islands, the better, right? That is why our mission statement is to “get more bums on bikes”.

Bike + Vehicle Cleaning

Each day, especially in Winter, we end up with bikes that require cleaning after a rental. To ensure we are not putting pressure on the environment, the only water we use onsite is Bore Water. As 90% of rainwater soaks into the ground, this is the perfect way to utilise this water. The recycled Rainwater is collected in a tank that we then use to clean the bikes and vehicles.

The ocean is our next-door neighbour and we did not want to be responsible for polluting the water or the creatures, that call it home. Therefore, we have chosen to use no cleaning products on our bikes and vehicles - all we use is the bore water, a sponge and then a microfibre cloth for a dry off.

Waste Management & Recycling

At Paihia MTB’s, we have recycling facilities on site which separates plastics, glass and paper. All of our staff make a conscious effort to recycle whatever they can, and we encourage all of our customers to use these facilities too. The recycled materials are then taken once a week by a staff member to the local Recycling Branch.

Recycling Tyres and Tubes

When bikes come in for a service or for a repair, our Workshop Team are always looking for ways to minimise waste. Punctured tubes that are no longer repairable, are collected monthly by some local ladies, who repurpose them into earrings. We also strive to give tyres a longer life. Mountain Biking requires bikes to have tyres with great tread. When the tread wears, the rider will find themselves slipping on the tracks. However, even when tyres do not have enough tread for mud and clay, they are still perfect for riding around town and learning how to pull skids. Therefore, when tyres are no longer appropriate for the Mountain Bike tracks, but are still safe (no rips or tears), they are put in a free tyre area at the Waitangi Mountain Bike Park, for riders to take home. 

Every Little Bit Helps….

Above are some of the major initiatives that have helped us to significantly improve Paihia MTB’s impact on the environment. In addition to these, within our Retail Store, we are also proactively looking to pair with New Zealand companies with similar sustainability values, so that we can stock products sourced from around New Zealand, in eco-friendly packaging, or using natural ingredients (such as Biomaxa).

 

Giving Back To The Community

Paihia Mountain Bikes believes very strongly in supporting and giving back to our community. Some of the ways we give back to the community include donating prize or bike sponsorships, especially when they are causes encouraging our locals to get outdoors and improve their wellbeing. Here are a few we have contributed to recently:

·      Bay of Islands Ocean Swim

·      Bay of Islands Run/Walk Festival

·      Paihia Tennis Club Fundraiser to reseal courts and build a practice wall

·      Queenstown Resort College Fundraiser

·      Paihia Fire Brigade Fundraiser

·      Sponsor Bikes for the Outfit North 6 Week Challenge 

 

Sponsored Rider Program

For the 2021/2022 Race season, we are sponsoring a local rider Callum Garlick. Callum has been hitting the NZ Downhill Circuit the last couple of years, and has been doing really well, as well as being named in the National Team. With his home tracks right here at the Waitangi MTB Park, we are loving being part of helping kickstart his career – which we are sure is going to be a bright one!

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Each and every one of our team love, respect and admire the incredible landscape which is so historic to Aotearoa, which is why each and every one of our team is committed to protecting it. We know we are not perfect, so we encourage feedback, and collaboration, to help us grow and learn to keep improving our behaviours. If you have any ideas – we are all ears!

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