Jason Eaton, Hosea Gear, Scott Waldrom and Hika Elliot teamed up with staff and representatives from Project Crimson and its major sponsor Meridian to plant 30 northern rata trees at the Berhampore Golf Course, Wellington. Meridian is also a sponsor of the Hurricanes Super 14 team.
Bridget Abernethy, Project Crimson Executive Director, says it was great to have the support of the players.
“We are delighted to see local sports stars take such an interest in looking after the natural environment here in Wellington. We are really grateful to the players and to Meridian for helping to give the native northern rata a kick-start in the area,” she says.
While it is an unusual time of the year to plant the trees, Bridget Abernethy expects them to flourish in their new environment.
“Although this is not the best time of year to plant, the golf course is an ideal location as it is a highly-managed and irrigated site. This means we can be sure the trees will be well looked after,” she says.
Currently, the seedlings are around 60cm tall but in time they can be expected to grow to more than 20 metres high.
“It will take around five years before we see the trees starting to flower. It will take another ten years or so for the trees to become well established,” she added.
Meridian Sponsorship Manager Mel Seyfort says sponsoring Project Crimson is a natural fit for Meridian.
“As a 100 per cent New Zealand owned company with a commitment to renewable energy and environmental sustainability, what could be more appropriate than helping to ensure these iconic native trees flourish in the heart of our capital city.”
“The work that Project Crimson does is invaluable and the results of their efforts with this project will have long lasting benefits for all Wellingtonians to enjoy,” she added.
This initiative is part of Project Crimson’s ongoing partnership with Wellington City Council to promote northern rata and restore them to the city.
Project Crimson is a national conservation trust that was established in 1990 to protect pohutakawa and rata trees around New Zealand by raising awareness of tree protection and supporting restoration programmes.
Crimson Trails have been established in Auckland, Rotorua, Mt Maunganui, Coromandel, Wellington, Golden Bay, Otago/Southland, the West Coast and most recently in Canterbury.
For more information contact:
Bridget Abernethy
Project Crimson
027 224 7018
Mel Seyfort
Meridian
021 645 875