09 June 2026
Schools for Trees – Te Mata Park Trust (New Zealand)
"Planting trees that will live forever." This simple reflection from a 10-year-old student captures the heart of Schools for Trees, a groundbreaking initiative at Te Mata Park. By moving beyond the ‘one-and-done' planting model, the project has established a new benchmark for how community partnership can drive large-scale ecological restoration.
Beyond the planting day
Between 2020 and 2024, Te Mata Park undertook a massive ‘1 Billion Trees’ programme, planting over 60,000 natives across 12 hectares of degraded land. However, the Trust recognised a critical vulnerability: young forests require years of consistent care — weeding, mulching and monitoring — to survive.
Relying solely on expensive contractors for maintenance was not sustainable. The park needed a way to ensure the resilience of these new habitats while fostering a deeper connection between the local community and the land.
Kaitiakitanga in action
Established in 2021, Schools for Trees transformed local students into long-term stewards. The programme currently partners with nine local schools, which were each allocated a specific plot within the restoration area.
Instead of visiting once, students return three to four times per year to:
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Perform maintenance: Weed control, mulching and pest management.
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Conduct tree audits: Tracking growth and survival rates.
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Learn Kaitiakitanga: Engaging in educational sessions about ecology, geology and the Māori principle of guardianship (kaitiakitanga).
This structured approach has turned restoration into a core component of the local school curriculum and the park’s management strategy.
Recloaking the land
With original native vegetation covering less than 2% of Hawke’s Bay’s lowlands, the impact of this project is ecologically significant. By replacing old pine plantations and pasture with native species like karamū, harakeke, mānuka and kānuka, the project has:
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Boosted biodiversity: Increased sightings of native birds like tūī and tauhou (silvereye) during flowering seasons.
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Enhanced resilience: Improved plant survival rates and soil stabilization, which proved vital during extreme weather events like Cyclone Gabrielle.
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Created future habitats: As species like kahikatea and tītoki mature, they will provide essential nesting sites and year-round food sources for native fauna.
A sustainable model for management
From an operational perspective, Schools for Trees is a masterclass in cost-effectiveness. By integrating community-led maintenance, the Trust has significantly reduced operational costs associated with weed control and infill planting. This allows limited resources to be used strategically for high-level conservation tasks while the community takes ownership of the day-to-day care.
Voice of the community
The programme’s success is best heard through the participants themselves:
"It ties in nicely with our school value of Kaitiakitanga... It was great to see students flourish in this setting, getting back into nature." — Adam Russ, Kaiako, Clive School.
"It’s good to work together... I can teach my family too, we are going to plant trees at home." — Romily, pupil, aged 9.
By nurturing ‘enduring stewardship,’ Te Mata Park has created more than just a forest; it has raised a generation of environmental guardians who will ensure the park thrives for centuries to come.
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