A passion for marine exploration and sustainable tourism go hand in hand
Jeroen Jongejans, cycled around Tutukaka and stayed. A committed environmentalist, he set up a business eventually known as Dive Tutukaka and was instrumental in getting Poor Knights islands declared a marine reserve.
Tutukaka’s identity is aptly summed up with an enormous dive bottle marking the entrance to the marina. The Poor Knights Marine Reserve, diving wrecks and plentiful marine life plus the beaches are a magnet for summer holiday makers. Dive Tutukaka is the owner of the huge dive bottle and the tour operator who channelled the Poor Knights Marine Reserve into the protected status the area enjoys today.
Background
Nearly 40 years living on the Tutukaka Coast
- Boatbuilding & Engineering
- Teacher at Tikipunga High
- 27 years in business Dive! Tutukaka
- Sinking 2 Navy ships as artificial reefs
- Promoting full Marine Reserve status Poor Knights Islands
- Destination management and development
Been on:
- BOT Ngunguru School
- Tutukaka Resident and Ratepayer association (9 years)
- Tutukaka Coast Promotions (Chair)
- Northland Tourism Development Group, (7 years,Chair)
- New Zealand Underwater Association (President 4 years)
- Northland Sustainable Business Group (Chair)
- Northland Conservation Board (9 years, Vice Chair)
- Northland Inc Board, 5 years (Vice Chair)
- Whangarei District Councillor, Councillor (3 years)
- Whangarei District Council Tourism Trust (4 years)
- Northland Chamber of Commerce (10 years)
- Tourism Industry Aotearoa, 9 years, (Vice Chair)
- NZ Tourism Trust (6 years)
- Sustainable Seas National Challenge stakeholder panel (3 years)
- Patron of the Tutukaka Coastguard (10 years)
Achievements
- Grad Dip Business.
- Recipient of
- Life Membership NZ Underwater
- Leo Ducker Award
- Northland Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame Inductee 2015
- New Zealand Tourism Industry Champion 2015
Over 20 times finalists and Winners Awards for Dive! Tutukaka from 2004 onwards including:
- Northland Chamber of Commerce Supreme Business Award
- NZ Tourism Supreme Award
- PADI Asia South Pacific Supreme Diving Company Award
- 3 times Regional Winners for Northland/Auckland WestPac Growth Grants
- Qualmark and Sustainable Business Awards
- Conservation Awards
Source Jeroen Jongejans
People who care and actively practice sustainable tourism. Check out Tutukaka: Things To Do and See in a Travel Guide – Pacific Jane for an excellent reason to holiday in the Far North.
