Regenerative Business Practices within Queenstown Lakes District
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Other Title
Authors
McLeod, Micaela
Author ORCID Profiles (clickable)
Degree
Master of Professional Practice
Grantor
Otago Polytechnic
Date
2025
Supervisors
McNamara, Rachel
Forbes, Alexa
Forbes, Alexa
Type
Masters Thesis
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
regenerative tourism
destination management
regenerative business
business sustainability
destination management
regenerative business
business sustainability
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
McLeod, M. (2025). Regenerative Business Practices within Queenstown Lakes District [Master's thesis, Otago Polytechnic]. Research Bank. https://doi.org/10.34074/thes.6901
Abstract
This research investigated the capacity of tourism businesses in the Queenstown Lakes District to address the climate crisis, in line with the objectives of the district’s Destination Management Plan (DMP) and goal to become a regenerative visitor economy.
The research aimed to explore practical interventions that enable businesses to transition toward more sustainable and regenerative practices, while considering the broader systemic challenges they face, such as economic pressures and insufficient policy and infrastructure support. Ultimately, questioning if businesses can become regenerative in the current economic system, and attempting to understand why previous work has failed to establish a clear framework or metrics to support businesses in the transition.
The research applied multiple methodologies but was primarily rooted in the Disruptive Design Method (DDM), providing a systems-thinking framework to design, implement, and evaluate targeted interventions that support businesses in their sustainability journey.
Information was gathered from three Queenstown-based businesses of different sizes and offerings, attempting to reflect the diversity of challenges and opportunities within the sector. Each business then agreed to adopt an “intervention” that aimed to support the business in moving toward increased sustainability practices.
The findings helped identify practical recommendations for businesses, emphasising the integration of regenerative and adaptive practices across all aspects of operations to build resilience in an increasingly volatile climate. The findings also indicate that without strong global and local business signals (in the form of incentives and regulation) it will be difficult to mobilise business to the level required under the current economic system.
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CC BY-NC-ND Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International