Show Notes
Is GDP still the right measure of progress? In this first episode of Care Beyond Profits, I speak with Gareth Hughes, Director of WEAll Aotearoa, political commentator, former Green MP, and climate activist. We explore how the economy can be redesigned to serve both people and planet.Gareth shares his journey from Greenpeace campaigns to Parliament and now leading the wellbeing economy movement. He reflects on lessons from politics, activism, parenting, and commentary, and how these shaped his vision for leadership rooted in care and purpose.This conversation blends personal stories with big-picture insights on why GDP fails and what a wellbeing economy could look like. If you care about impact, sustainability, and justice, this episode will inspire you.Learn more about Gareth and his work:- Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa: https://weall.org- Gareth Hughes (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethhughes- You can purchase Gareth’s book here- A Gentle Radical here: https://bookhero.co.nz/products/a-gentle-radical-by-gareth-hughes-9781988547831?srsltid=AfmBOopMT3zNDCuFpH5c7k6YZzQ88Wh3thKEtWpSyZriYX5Udi_gS35jIf you are passionate about impact, leadership, sustainability, and purpose-driven change, this conversation will inspire you.Please support us to deliver more content.Like, subscribe, and share if you believe in building an economy that truly serves people and planet.Watch the episodes on Youtube - https://youtu.be/a5yo9NKpz2kFollow me on: linkedin.com/in/azooraali
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Paul Button, CEO of Rotorua Canopy Tours, shares conservation tourism, regenerative business, and purpose-driven leadership in this Care Beyond Profits podcast on sustainability and ecotourism."Humans...All we crave for is just connection."From a whitewater kayaker chasing rivers across North Canterbury, Canada and Central America, to running one of New Zealand's most awarded ecotourism businesses, Paul Button's story is one of adventure, environmental conviction, and people-first leadership.As CEO of the Rotorua Canopy Tours Group, Paul leads a zipline and treetop experience set inside an 11,000-year-old native forest, alongside the Canopy Conservation Trust that funds its restoration work.In this conversation, Paul shares how a tourism business became a conservation engine: 12 years of native forest restoration, 700 self-resetting predator traps, a B Corp certification (the first in Rotorua), and a soil-carbon breakthrough that suggests a predator-free New Zealand could one day be carbon neutral. Throughout the episode, Paul returns to a simple idea, that the staff are the stars of the show, and that connection, not infrastructure, is what people truly remember.About Paul ButtonPaul Button is the Chief Executive Officer of Rotorua Canopy Tours Group, leading Rotorua Canopy Tours, widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s premier nature-based tourism experiences.His career began as a young kayaker on wild rivers, sparking a lifelong connection to adventure and the natural world. From guiding on the Kaituna River to leading teams internationally, Paul has built his career around creating meaningful, high-quality experiences that connect people to place.Since returning to Aotearoa in 2017, Paul has focused on innovation and regenerative tourism, restoring native forests, inspiring visitors, and demonstrating that business can be a force for good. He also oversees supporting businesses in Queenstown, including Million Dollar Cruise and Canyon Explorers.Outside of work, Paul is a hands-on dad who stays active through CrossFit, mountain biking, and endurance runningIn This Episode / Chapters00:00 New Zealand's carbon-neutral hypothesis00:07 Introducing Paul Button & Canopy Tours01:07 The importance of consistency in leadership13:29 Why people are the real product in tourism17:59 Partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC)20:20 The Canopy Conservation Trust funding model24:22 Why conservation budgets should never be cut25:18 B Corp certification and holistic business32:38 Setting ethical boundaries with clients40:13 The 40% carbon ground composition discovery41:16 Predator-free forests as a carbon solution41:53 International research partnership & future scalingLearn more about Paul and Rotorua Canopy Tours Rotorua Canopy Tours: https://www.canopytours.co.nz/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-button-93241b187/