A-Z of Millbrook's Sustainability

A

AMENITIES- Our amenity products are 100% NZ sourced and are helping to reduce our carbon footprint.

ARROWTOWN AUTUMN FESTIVAL- We are a continued sponsor of the annual Arrowtown Autumn Festival that attracts large numbers of locals and visitors to our beautiful town during one of the most colourful times of year.

ARROWTOWN- Throughout summer we reduce water usage by only using race water from the Arrowtown river to feed each of our water features.

B

BED SHEETS- We donate our pre-loved bed sheets to local charities including Happiness House.

BIO DYNAMIC GARDNER- The Millbrook Kitchen Garden is looked after by our certified bio dynamic gardener and everything we grow is organic from seed.

C

CARBON REDUCTION- As a tourism industry we want to contribute to the Tourism Carbon Challenge that urges every tourism business to measure its carbon footprint and significantly reduce carbon emissions by 2030.

CHICKENS- Millbrook have free range heritage chickens who produce free range eggs to the resort for the use of cooking in the restaurant kitchens.

CHIPPING AND COMPOSTING- Chipping and composting of green waste is used across the entire resort on communal landscaped areas.

COMMUNITY- Millbrook is committed to supporting and engaging with the community. We recognise that people are our greatest asset and we will continue to strive to establish strong relationships within the community.

CROMWELL TURF COLLEGE- Millbrook provides work placement for students at Cromwell Turf College. Our Golf Course superintendent is an assessor for the College for approving the practical skills of its students.

D

DIGITAL COMPENDIUMS- We have introduced an online resort compendium, successfully eliminating more than 20,000 pages of paper wastage each year. 

E

ELECTRIC GOLF CARTS- We use electric golf carts for as much of the transport around the resort as possible.

ENVIRO GOLD RATING- As a sign of our ongoing commitment and efforts, Millbrook was recently awarded the Enviro Gold Rating from Qualmark, New Zealand’s tourism official quality assurance organisation. Our Enviro-Gold Rating is in acknowledgement of Millbrook's continued effort to operate as a sustainable resort.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENTS- Millbrook are committed to protecting and enhancing New Zealand’s environment including water, biodiversity, landscapes, and cleaner air.

ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE- Millbrook received their Enviro-Gold Rating due to our environmental performance including our initiatives in energy, waste, water, conservation and the community.

F

FOOD WASTE- Food waste from outlets get diverted to local lifestyle farmers for chicken feed or included in the composting system.

FREE RANGE- Millbrook have a seasonal and sustainable Kitchen Garden with free range heritage chickens (we only use cage-free eggs at the resort).

FRESH AIR PROJECT- Millbrook is a part of the Fresh Air Project, an initiative coordinated by the Southern District Health Board and Cancer Society, to create smoke free outdoor areas. Currently the Milhouse, Hole In One Café, Clubhouse and Kobe Cuisine all operate 100% smoke and vape free.

FRUIT- Millbrook has an orchard that has 80 fruit and nut trees with some that fruit early, middle, and late in the season so that we have fruit all summer. The late harvest fruits are predominantly bottling fruit to service our breakfast offering over the winter.

G

GREENER STAY- In 2022 we launched our Greener Stay programme which has successfully eliminated more than 28,000kg of CO2e from going into the atmosphere. This is equivalent to flying the entire circumference of the world almost five times. Learn more about our Greener Stay programme here.

GREEN WASTE- Our green waste produced from landscaping and greenkeeping gets chipped and composted which then gets reused on communal landscaped areas.

H

HYBRID MOWERS- When possible, we buy hybrid mowers instead of straight petrol/diesel. This reduces our resort's overall fuel consumption and emissions.

I

IRRIGATION SYSTEM- Our irrigation system is controlled by a computer programme meaning we have greater control over water being used. To reduce our potable (treated for drinking) water usage, we source a specific irrigation supply for our golf course irrigation.

J

JARS- Our kitchen team recycle jars for storage and fruit preserves that are also harvested from our very own home-grown orchard.

K

KAITIAKITANGA- As part of our sustainability commitment, Millbrook Resort embraces this value which means the guardianship and protection of our natural, built, and cultural resources for the benefit of current and future generations.

KITCHEN FOOD WASTE- Food waste produced from the resort outlet's is used as compost for the garden.

KITCHEN GARDEN- Millbrook have a seasonal and sustainable Kitchen Garden with free range heritage chickens and organic vegetables and fruit. We work hard to use everything we possibly can for the garden from the Millbrook grounds e.g. the compost is made from kitchen food waste, mulch is made from all the falling autumn leaves, hay for the chickens is cut and bailed on Millbrook land, wood chips for paths and weed suppression around trees and garden beds all come from fallen trees at Millbrook.

KITCHEN GARDEN TOURS- During summer months we offer Kitchen Garden tours to our guests and locals so they can learn about our garden to plate philosophy and view all the wonderful fruits and vegetables we grow. Guests also get to meet our Millbrook chickens.

KIWI BIRDLIFE PARK- Millbrook sponsored a kiwi named Mahuta mills, which was taken care of by the team at Kiwi Birdlife Park in Queenstown. In December 2018 Mahuta Mills was released into the wild in conjunction with the ZAA (Zoo and Aquarium Association).

KIWIHARVEST- Our Millhouse chefs have proudly partnered with Kiwiharvest for their interactive three-course Trust the Chef evening- celebrating good food, a beautiful community and reducing food waste.

L

LARGEST EMPLOYERS- Millbrook is one of the largest employers in the Queenstown-Lakes region with more than 300 team members in the peak summer season. Millbrook was also proudly awarded Employer of the Year in the 2021 RealNZ Queenstown Business Awards.

LIGHTING UP OUR MILLBROOK- LED lights are used throughout the rooms.

LINEN- Guests linen are changed every three days (unless requested otherwise). This helps save an estimated 750,000 litres of water every single month!

LOCAL BUSINESSES- We endeavour to source goods and services from local businesses and suppliers.

LOCAL SCHOOLS- We sponsor several local schools and charities by providing vouchers for major fundraising events.

M

MANAAKITANGA- As part of our commitment, Millbrook Resort embraces this value which means showing respect, hospitality, generosity, and care for others.

MULCH- We mulch all of our gardens to help retain moisture and reduce irrigation requirements.

N

NATIVE BIRDLIFE- We continue to make ongoing improvements to the banks and wetlands within the resort, this includes planting native trees which has led to an increase in the native birdlife.

NATIVE TREES- We continue to plant a number of native trees around the resort.

NEW ZEALAND TOURISM- Millbrook are also dedicated members of the New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Commitment, which has a vision for New Zealand to lead the world in sustainable tourism.

NO CHEMICAL REACTION- We use enzyme products to clean our bathrooms reducing the chemicals that go into our wastewater.

O

ORGANIC- Millbrook’s Kitchen Garden contains fruit and vegetables grown organically from seed and is nurtured by our certified bio dynamic gardener.

P

PLATINUM SPONSOR- Millbrook is a platinum sponsor of the Queenstown Trails Trust for which we have donated circa $10,000.

PROGRESSIVE PLASTIC- We recycle our plastic amenity and toiletry products through THE HOTEL WEKA – ‘lets make a difference one piece at a time’.

PRINT CENTRAL- Millbrook uses Print Central for all our marketing needs. Print Central is a local Queenstown company that offers both digital, offset and signage print solutions.

PAINT- Any leftover paint and containers used at the resort are sent to Paintwise, a company that recycles the paint into anti-graffiti paint and repurposes the tubs.

Q

QUEENSTOWN INTERNATIONAL MARATHON- Millbrook is proud to host the start of the Queenstown International Marathon, an annual running festival set in the stunning Queenstown lakes district. One of the most scenic marathons in the world.

QUEENSTOWN RESORT COLLEGE- Millbrook works closely with the local Queenstown Resort College in support of their work experience programme.

QUEENSTOWN TRAILS TRUST- Millbrook has given access for the Queenstown bike trail to pass through the centre of the resort. This important link in the trail has enabled the physical completion of a circuit which extends from Queenstown to Gibbston Valley.

R

RECREATION RESERVE- Millbrook has gifted a portion of land to the community for the establishment of a recreation reserve used for the local cricket ground.

RECYCLING IN ROOMS- Recycle bins are provided in all our hotel rooms.

RECYCLED MILK BOTTLES- Used milk bottles are sent back to the supplier for recycling.

RECYCLED PAPER- Our in-room dining menus are now printed as a QR code on recycled paper. 

RECYCLED TAKEWAY COFFE CUPS- We have removed plastic straws from the resort and now use recyclable takeaway coffee cups. We also provide Millbrook Keep Cups to each of our team members and sell reusable coffee cups to guests in our Hole In One Café.

RECYCLED TIMBER- We use recycled timber for our menu boards and our bar leaners at Smithy’s Smoke House are made from recycled timber from the old woolshed.

REUSE- Where possible we return our plastic planter pots to suppliers for reuse.

S

SHUTTLE- We provide a regular shuttle for guests and staff to help reduce the number of individual vehicles on the road.

SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS- We have removed all single use plastic bags from our hotel rooms, resulting in the successful elimination of 26,000 bin liners each year.

SPONSORSHIP- We sponsor a number of local schools and charities by providing vouchers for major fundraising events.

SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENT- As part of our sustainability commitment the resort embraces the values Kaitiakitanga, Manaakitanga and Whanaungatanga.

SUSTAINABLE QUEENSTOWN- Millbrook is working with Sustainable Queenstown for their annual food rescue dinner. This community event showcases what can be created from perfectly good food that would otherwise head to landfill.

T

TIAKI PROMISE- Millbrook follows the Tiaki Promise by committing to care for New Zealand, for now and for the future generations. New Zealand is precious, and everyone who lives, and travels here has a responsibility to look after it.

U

UNIFORM RECYCLING - To prevent textiles going to landfill, Millbrook is proud to partner with ImpacTex to help recycle our old uniform that can no longer be repaired or reused.

USAGE OF CHEMICALS - Guest towels are washed upon demand, which reduces our overall water consumption and chemical usage.

V

VISION- Millbrook's environmental vision is to actively reduce or mitigate any adverse effects on our environment. This is achieved by wise planning and development; enhancing natural watercourses and open areas; buying and sourcing produce locally when available; using our natural resources efficiently; reducing and disposing of all waste responsibly; and providing a socially and environmentally responsible product without compromising on our guest’s comfort and enjoyment.

W

WATER QUALITY- We measure the water quality in the natural water course, Mill Stream, from where it enters the resort to where it exits in order to ensure the water quality stays the same or improves throughout its course through Millbrook.

WATER USAGE- We use a variety of actions to reduce our water use such as mulching our gardens, resourcing a specific agitation system supply for our golf course irrigation, using race water from the Arrowtown river to feed each of our water features which includes a recycling function to reduce top-up demands. And we control our irrigation system by a computer programme. A majority of the watering is done overnight to reduce evapotranspiration.

WHANAUNGATANGA- As part of our commitment, Millbrook Resort embraces this value which means a relationship through shared experiences and working together which provides people with a sense of belonging.

WHAKATIPU REFORESTATION TRUST- Millbrook is proud to partner with the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust for our Greener Stay programme. Our goal is to contribute to the planting of more than 5,000 native trees across our region. Learn more about our partnership here.

X

EXPLORE- To continue enhancing our visitor experience we developed two educational walking tours around the resort - Millbrook's History Tour and the Millbrook Nature Walk. Find out more about our Millbrook Experiences here.

Y

YOUTH- We offer local primary schools educational tours of Millbrook's Kitchen Garden. Hosted by our biodynamic gardener, children get to meet the Millbrook chickens, learn how different plants are grown, and understand why its important to care for the world around them.  

Z

ZERO WASTE- All electronic waste goes to the Molten Media Trust, a registered charity which promotes ethical recycling of electronic equipment and computers with an ultimate goal of zero waste to landfill.