Did you know New Zealand is home to the most isolated tree on earth?
This lonely tree can be found on Campbell Island, some 700km south of Bluff which is itself the southernmost town in mainland New Zealand. Its closest 'tree friend' lives more than 200km away on Auckland Island.
The tree is believed to have been planted around 100 years ago, and despite being native to the west cost of Canada and the United States, has survived in this remote location. It is often referred to as a 'giant cauliflower'.
With luck and good care, perhaps some of the trees planted by volunteers in our Electricity and Gas and Local Government businesses in New Zealand will last that long, although they will be less lonely!
Craig MacDonald, General Manager Electricity and Gas Australia and New Zealand says as part of our commitment to the environment and sustainability, the business actively supports and participates in volunteering events with Trees for Survival. A charitable trust which works with schools and local communities, Trees for Survival helps grow and plant native trees along waterways and on erosion prone hillsides.
"We have a number of school plantings throughout the year," Craig says. "It's something we believe strongly in supporting."
As an organisation with operations and employees spread across the length and breadth of New Zealand, and a commitment to sustainability at the core of everything we do, partnering with Trees for Survival was an obvious choice for Ventia.
Karen Boyes Electricity and Gas Project Director in NZ's Northern Region, New Zealand says that team members enjoy the opportunity to get out in the community and help by volunteering their time.
'We provide volunteers to help plant trees. It really is as simple — but as meaningful — as that,' Karen says.
Pictured: Ventia team volunteering
On a recent planting day, Environmental and Sustainability Advisor Chloe Brown over in our Local Government team in New Zealand says they planted 740 trees in conjunction with James Cook High School.
"As the students were older in this group, they did a lot of the planting themselves," Chloe says. "We did some planting alongside them, but our role was also to support and guide, and answer questions they have on sustainability and biodiversity."
With over 1.5 million native NZ trees planted since 1991, and 3,000 kiwi kids involved in the activities in 2020 alone, Trees for Survival are achieving great things.
Trees for Survival's environmental education program provides an opportunity for school children to make a practical difference to their environment as well as learn about conservation, revegetation, wetland restoration and protecting stream quality.
Businesses like Ventia join a local partnership to support Trees for Survival schools and communities in their local area with this vital work of restoring natural biodiversity and habitats.
Find out more about Trees for Survival or get involved here: https://www.tfsnz.org.nz/get-involved/
Pictured above: The most isolated tree on earth. Image credit: The Conversation https://theconversation.com/anthropocene-began-in-1965-according-to-signs-left-in-the-worlds-loneliest-tree-91993