Conservation Volunteers New Zealand is leading the mahi to plant 35,000 kahikatea trees, as part of the Matariki Tu Rākau One Billion Trees programme.

Public planting days

Cranford Basin Forest planting days

Want to help create a living legacy for our city? Conservation Volunteers New Zealand will be planting 7, 000 kahikatea in Cranford Basin, and they need your help.

These seedlings will grow up to become the largest forest of kahikatea in Ōtautahi Christchurch since pre-European times. Help plant this forest and be part of the larger vision to create our biodiverse city.

Meet at 103 Philpotts Rd, Mairehau to plant in the Cranford Basin.

Weekend planting days

Stay tuned for the next event.

Cancellations due to poor weather will be notified via email to registered attendees, and via the CVNZ Facebook(external link) page.

Find out more about Conservation Volunteers New Zealand.(external link)

Team-building days

Conservation Volunteers New Zealand is offering regular planting days each month between April and September, to local businesses and organisations.

Planting days are great for:

  • Team building – work together to plant a forest.
  • Staff wellbeing – time in nature is restorative.
  • The environment – what better way to offset your organisation’s carbon emissions?

Conservation Volunteers New Zealand provides all tools and planting expertise for the day, at no charge to your organisation, although a koha is appreciated.

Please contact Donna by email at dlusby@cvnz.org.nz or phone 021 457 568 for more information and to register your interest in this project. 

What to bring
  • Appropriate clothing for any weather: sunhat, warm jacket and raincoat
  • Sturdy footwear or gumboots are essential
  • Personal work gloves
  • Tools and sunscreen are supplied

This is a wetland site – be prepared to get damp.

For further information contact Donna Lusby at christchurch@cvnz.org.nz

More information

Cranford Basin is a natural ponding and stormwater management area, critical to reducing the flood risk to urban Christchurch, and in particular the Pūharakekenui/Styx and Avon River/Otākaro catchments.

It will be transformed over the next decade into a multi-purpose forested wetland, with enhanced waterways and passive recreation areas that will benefit ecosystems and the surrounding community.

This planting project is a Matariki Tu Rākau: living memorial, initiated under the One Billion Trees Programme, in conjunction with Christchurch City Council, Trees for Canterbury, and with support from the Department of Conservation’s Community Fund.