UC
research finds tourists feeding kea poses a potential threat
to the species’ survival.
(Photo/Supplied)
Tourists’
irresponsible behaviour around kea, such as feeding the
birds, poses a potential threat to the species’ survival,
new UC research has found.
Dr Richard Aquino and
Professor Girish Prayag from Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha |
University of Canterbury (UC) Business School have
discovered that tourists are often unable to resist the
temptation to feed kea despite awareness that they
shouldn’t. With tourist locations located in proximity to
kea populations, there’s more likelihood of kea being
exposed to human food through stealing, soliciting and
scavenging food. This puts kea at an increased risk of
involuntary poisoning from toxins meant for their
predators.
These findings will help inform social
marketing campaigns to encourage responsible visitor
behaviour and support the protection of native birds, in
conjunction with the Department of Conservation.
UC
marketing students will also benefit, with Dr Aquino and
Professor Prayag’s research being integrated into the
curriculum of MKTG317 Sustainable Tourism Enterprises and
Destinations, MKTG240 Tourism, Hospitality and Events
Management and MKTG202 Marketing Research at the UC Business
School, which are core courses of the Bachelor of Commerce
in Tourism Marketing and Management.
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“We want to
equip the students with not just the knowledge, but also the
mindset that business can be sustainable, and that marketing
can be used to drive social change.
“Managing a
business properly is one thing, but then managing a business
sustainably and responsibly is another,” Dr Aquino
says.
The UC Business School is internationally
recognised as one of the new members of Principles for
Responsible Management Education (PRME) Champions for
2024-2025.
Dr Aquino says being the only Aotearoa New
Zealand university recognised as a PRME champion “says a
lot about our positioning as a sustainability-oriented
Business School, and how we are achieving our vision and
mission to create positive social change”.
UC
Business School Sustainability and PRME Lead Dr Joya Kemper
says the PRME accreditation sets UC graduates apart from
others, “making them highly attractive to
employers”.
“We see a large demand for corporate
social responsibility and sustainable knowledge and skills
from employers.”
The UC Business School joins 47
international Business Schools as PRME
Champions.
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