Z Bowater Motors helps plant native trees to line Coastal Highway near Mapua
Chris Bowater, CEO of Z Bowater Motors, left, Tasman District Council horticulturist Richard Hilton, Tasman Environment Trust chairwoman Gillian Bishop, Z retailer Nigel Andrews and Helen Bibby of the Mapua District Community Association at Dominion Flats Reserve where the donated trees will be planted.
Thousands of native trees were donated by Trees that Count as part of an initiative with Z service stations around the country.
Those that filled up their car at Z last Thursday contributed to the cause, with 6 cents from every litre of fuel donated to the native tree planting organisation.
Nelson was one of four regions selected as the recipients of 5000 native trees which will be planted at the Dominion Flats Reserve and neighbouring Higgs Reserve, either side of Mapua Drive off the Coastal Highway.
Mapua and District Community Association executive member Helen Bibby said the Dominion Flats project began in late 2013 and in that time, over 30,000 natives had been planted over six hectares of council reserve land.
Bibby said the Tasman District Council purchased the land after the highway was built on the understanding that the community would help with its restoration.
It was previously a swamp with the land covered in broom, blackberries and gorse.
Community members have been busy helping out with planting and the 10-year plan is to plant 60,000 native trees in the area.
She said the donation of native plants from Z came from "out of the blue" and was "absolutely fantastic".
Tasman Environmental Trust chair Gillian Bishop said 1000 trees would be planted in the Dominion Flats Reserve and the other 4000 trees would be planted across the road at Higgs Reserve.
The natives would include rimu, kahikatea, kanuka, miro, matai and totara.
Tasman District Council horticultural officer Richard Hilton said the tree planting was part of restoring the coast along the Waimea estuary.
"It's getting the green belt running back into the hills so you have that depth of native vegetation and bird corridors."
Z Bowater Motors CEO Chris Bowater said he was delighted that Nelson was one of only two areas in the South Island to receive funding for local plantings.
"This tangible and significant contribution to these very worthy local organisations assists them in achieving their very important environmental goals in our beautiful Nelson / Tasman region.
"We want to thank our customers because its only with their support buying fuel, that we were able to make this happen."
Z chief executive Mike Bennetts said Z was committed to reducing the carbon impact of its products and planting native trees was a meaningful way to achieve this, because of the direct impact trees have on absorbing carbon dioxide.
"Customers have told us that they love the idea of reforesting parts of New Zealand and that they want us to be involved, as a small step to combating climate change."
Trees That Count Project director Tanya Hart said the funds provided thousands of native trees to restoration projects across New Zealand and enabled the organisation to extend its conservation work.
"The projects from Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Northland have been selected by Trees that Count based on their urgent need for native plantings, and each group's proven commitment to plant and maintain the sites," she said.
"We are proud to play a part in supporting the great work that community conservation groups do every year. Planting a native tree is something every Kiwi can do to help mitigate climate change."
