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The southern right whale spotted off the Kapiti Coast - Source: ONE News
A New Zealand whale watching company is in the running for an international tourism award.
Whale Watch Kaikoura will find out on Wednesday if it's won the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award in the marine environment category.
The awards ceremony is part of World Responsible Tourism Day at the World Travel Market in London.
Whale Watch Kaikoura chief operating officer Kauahi Ngapoura says the awards are the Oscars of responsible tourism.
He says it was quite humbling to have been long-listed in the first place, because there were about 600 nominees.
Ngapoura says it's fantastic to have became a finalist.
He hopes the awards will generate more interest in the UK and Europe, which are very important markets for the company.
Ngapoura says a desire to look after the environment is one of the main reasons the company stands out, saying obviously for them if there are no whales, there's no whale watch so they have to look after their environment.
