What It Means to Be a Qualmark Silver Business

We’re proud to share that AuthenticAs has been awarded a Silver Sustainable Tourism Business Award by Qualmark New Zealand.

Now, we’re not usually the types to make a fuss over labels, but this one feels like something worth mentioning — mostly because of what sits behind it. A Silver award means our business has been independently assessed across key areas like health and safety, customer experience, environmental care, and overall sustainability. And we didn’t just scrape through — we were told it was a very high Silver, with only a couple of small steps to go before reaching Gold.

So what does that really mean?

It means that the way we go about things — the quiet, thoughtful way we build our tours and guide people through the land and sky — is working. It means that taking one person or a couple out into the landscape at the right pace, and giving them space to breathe and ask and learn, is seen for what it is: good service, done properly.

The assessor commented on how we go well above legal compliance, particularly in health and safety. Our systems are tailored to our business — not just copied and pasted — and that’s because we take care seriously. Emma brings her experience as an emergency nurse, and I bring mine as someone who has worked in education, outdoors, and environmental projects for years. We check in before and after the busy seasons. We carry all the right gear. And we don’t just talk about wellness — we live it, because this work matters to us too.

Environmental care is part of our day-to-day. From offsetting diesel emissions using native trees and shrubs, to designing school education programmes about light pollution, we’re committed to doing what we can with what we have. Our background in zero waste and education is behind a lot of this — we don’t always shout about it, but it’s always there.

Qualmark Silver also helps reassure the people we most love to guide. Recently we took an 80-year-old photographer out for an evening of stargazing and astrophotography. We moved slowly. We stopped often. He was eager to learn, and we were grateful for the trust. These are the kinds of experiences that leave a lasting impression — on both sides.

It’s easy to talk about quality. But for us, it’s more about showing it — in the way we greet people, the stories we share, the way we adapt each tour to suit the guest, and the care we take with every image we make.

If you’re looking for something personal and considered — or if you’re an inbound tour operator wanting to work with someone who values quality, safety, and genuine care — we’d love to connect.