Over 2 million trees have been planted in locations around New Zealand by an organisation with which Ventia is proud to have a long-standing relationship.

Trees for Survival has been running since 1991, with operations in more than 120 schools across New Zealand. The program aims to educate school-aged children about ecology and conservation and students develop horticultural skills and an appreciation of native trees. They also learn about their role in maintaining healthy environments and the balance trees bring to the natural habitat.

Most recently, members of our Energy Networks and Renewables team and Auckland Council teams have been mucking in to plant native trees as part of Ventia’s work supporting the trees for survival initiative.

Craig MacDonald, General Manager ENR says:

With the schools we sponsor across the North Island, we are making a long-term positive difference to the local communities we work in and the environment.

Our long-standing partnership with Trees for Survival, along with other local communities, schools, councils and businesses, has helped the program plant more than 2 million trees over the last three decades.

This day was one of more than a dozen community planting events Ventia has supported this year, working alongside students from local schools and landowners to plant everything from mānuka, karamu and harakeke to pukio, toetoe and purei.

Every year our teams get involved and volunteer their time, rain or shine, to support schools and join them on their planting days across the North Island.

“We are proud of the efforts we are making to educate our students and school community on the importance of native plants on our ecology, biodiversity and water quality,” says Craig.

This initiative has schools set up with a shade-house and irrigation system and given approximately 1000 saplings. The school and students then grow, weed and prune these for approximately nine months until they’re ready to plant on high-risk lands, such as around waterways, on steep slopes or in erosion-prone areas.

Prior to being sent to the schools, the seeds are eco-sourced and grown to saplings in a range of commercial nurseries, including one whose labour force includes low-security inmates to give them skills they can use on their release.

“As an organisation with a commitment to sustainability at the core of everything we do, partnering with Trees for Survival was an obvious choice for Ventia,” Craig says. “I know I speak for the team when I say we’re all really pleased to be part of such a great program.”

In the last year planting days have been conducted in conjunction with Papatoetoe Intermediate, Puni School, The Gardens School, Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, Tamaki Primary School, Alfriston School, e Rangihakahaka Centre for Science and Technology Rotokawa School, Westbrook School, Otonga School, St Joseph's School Hamilton & Fairfield College.