KEY POINTS:
Weta are getting five-star luxury accommodation at the Langham Hotel in Auckland as part of an initiative to familiarise guests with sustainability.
Connected to the hotel's Guests of the Earth environmental programme, a sanctuary dubbed the Wetarium has been set up as the home of four male and 10 female weta, outside in the hotel's native New Zealand plant shelter. The sanctuary will give overseas guests the opportunity to get up close and personal with one of New Zealand's native insects.
It will also encourage guests to better understand the importance of environmental sustainability and looking after the world, says environmental adviser Ruud Kleinpaste - better known as The Bugman.
"If you're a bit scared of them then the first thing to know is that you're not alone. But there's nothing to be scared about - they're helping the world," he said.
"They're natural recyclists. They chew up the leaves in the garden and then poop them out - they act as dung removal and pollination and are natural recyclers. We need them."
Environmental project supervisor Nicholas Blake said the introduction of the Wetarium was unique to the hotel, allowing guests to have direct interaction and therefore improve their understanding of sustainability.
"All the stuff we're doing with the guests is long term. Reducing energy consumption, cutting down on waste, recycling - this is getting them actively involved," Mr Blake said.
In August, the hotel was awarded the Green Globe Sustainability Award at the Tourism Industry Awards, for its initiatives to reduce energy consumption, recycling and saving water.
Mr Blake said: "It's our way of fighting for a better environment. We hope guests have some sort of appreciation for this and other projects too. We want to advocate sustainability."
New Zealanders need to look after "our creepy crawlies", Mr Kleinpaste said.
